Spirituality was built into the AA Program, right from the beginning. Bill’s wife worked in Emmet Fox’ office and Dr. Fox was the Spiritual Advisor for many of the first AAs. His Sermon on the Mount was considered the first Big Book and is still today part of the literature one finds at many AA meetings and stores. A newcomer to AA many times is coming away from, among other problems, a huge problem with Religion and God. In my mind, that is one of the largest reasons that newcomers are told almost from day one in the Program that this is not a religious program but a spiritual program.
Religion has and does work very well with many people but many coming into AA are very hesitant to even think of God as their Higher Power. We are told in Step 2 that we came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity and Step 3 states God as we understood Him. Notice that we are first told to look at what is going on around us, because we all have different experiences. Then we can see that there is some kind of Power orchestrating what is going on. We can call this Power anything we choose. I originally chose the Group of AA as my Higher Power.
Dr. Fox was one of the pioneers in the “New Thought” school of Spirituality. In this school, any name for a Power will do. We also must realize that there is a Power ready, able, and willing to do for us what so many of us could not do for ourselves.
“But, why does God give us tests like war, disease, Covid, divorce, addiction?” The list is endless. We learn in Spirituality studies that our Higher Power, who I now choose to call God, does not test us. This all comes from the use of Free Will. He only gives us love, guidance, and Divine wisdom, if It is sought. We learn that we must humbly ask, first. Then try not to direct the outcome. Just let it happen! ‘He’ is also a term placed on what humans have put on God by the same people who teach that God is our Father, like our human father, so “just another man.” FALSE! This is just another way that people put their own stamp of approval on things that they are not able to see, touch, feel, smell, or taste, but must have faith in.
Entire churches, religions, and beliefs have risen and fallen and some still exist that believe this. God is not a glorified human being. It, and I use a capital I in It in this instance, is a Power greater than ourselves. I can not see electricity or gravity either but I do feel and use the effects of both. Life, in this instance, is not a cafeteria where we pick and choose what to believe and what not to adhere to without Divine guidance. My mission in life now is to feel Happy, Joyous, and Free. How? By letting others know the truth that there is help.
It does not stop there, though. I want, just as much or more, for you and all to have the hope and know that all is truly well with you. Yes, I hope and pray that you are Happier, more Joyous and Freer than I! Why? Because I can then selfishly have something to work for, that being your utter Joy. Is it impossible? NO WAY! Is it difficult? It surely can be. And, it is so utterly simple that it is probably overlooked, even by those who have studied these things forever.
ALL that I do, when awakening, is Give thanks to God for another day and opportunity to serve others. Then during the day use the shortened version of the 3rd Step by saying “God help Me” whenever I come to a fork in my life’s road. Then follow up with “thank you God” for helping me with it. Finally, at day’s end, “Thank you God for this day of Sobriety.” Just like the rest of the AA Program, this is very simple but not always easy so don’t mess around any more. Just Do It! If you do, you will be rewarded more than you could ever have believed possible before. That is a Promise!