I have said many times that the way that I live my life, not just exist, is to work my program 24/7/365 to the best of my ability. This takes balance.
The barrier to even trying this balance when new into the program, and even later upon occasion, was wondering how I could carry on with life with everyone around me. My wife, children, neighbors, coworkers, other relatives, and friends. And thinking that working my program was thinking ONLY about my alcoholism, my God, and attending meetings.
Wiser heads than mine finally prevailed and I came to understand, with the help of others in the program and my spiritual advisor, that just trying to do the next right thing was working my program.
I didn’t have to constantly think that taking just one drink and it was all down the drain. I know it just like I know that sticking my hand in a flame will burn it. Just like I know that stepping in front of a truck will probably end my earthly experience. Just like I know that jumping from the roof of a tall building will not be assisted at all by wings that will wonderfully sprout from my back.
I do not know these things because I read them in a text or heard them espoused by a professor or teacher. I know this because I can feel that it is true.
How can I feel that it is true? Because I am a spiritual being. Living in a spiritual universe. That is governed by spiritual law. And have been blessed to have been shown this by loving mentors, called sponsors in the AA Program.
To maintain this is very simple. I must attend meetings, get a sponsor, and not drink or drug. Merit badges are not given by the number of meetings attended but by taking part in the meetings that are attended.
The objection to doing this many times is that one just does not have the time to constantly pray and worship a Higher Power and go to AA meetings. Emmet Fox answered this when he said “Every thought is a prayer.”
For some, knowing that every thought is a prayer is intimidating because of the wild thoughts that occur upon occasion. For me, it is refreshing because this means that I do not have to stop playing basketball to kneel and pray.
Why? Because I use the shortened version of the 3rd Step regularly. Simply saying “God Help Me.” And the one used more often now, “Thank You, God!”
This is how I can balance my life with AA, Spirituality, recreation, career, family, and whatever else is jammed into my very busy life. And for this, I am blessed. So the only thing for me to do now is to say “Thank You, God!
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