Today, since I have discovered the Spirituality that has always been in me but I did not see, I am too blessed to be stressed! I say this without a single reservation, but, or “except for this.” When I was introduced to Spirituality by the amazing Program of Alcoholics Anonymous 45 years ago, I was physically, morally, emotionally, and spiritually bankrupt thinking hard about committing suicide. I thought that I had no blessings. I was somehow led to and through the doors of AA where I started witnessing people who I had known to be just as distraught and miserable as I before only now they were Happy, Joyous, and Free.
Happy that they were able to enjoy what they had left of their lives. Joyous in the fact that they could see that, if they only continued doing what they were doing they would continue feeling even better as time went on. Free because they were Happy and Joyful without NEEDING to use a mind altering substance to feel anything at all.
I wanted what they had and was willing to go to any lengths to get it and finally told them so and asked, no pleaded with them to show me how they did it so that I could get some too. Soon, I not only admitted Step 1 but also accepted it, and began working the AA Program to the best of my stumbling ability. I then discovered that there actually was a Power much greater than I could ever think of. Not only that but this Power was actually ready, able, and willing to do for me what I was never able to do for myself – that is to show me that I AM SOMEBODY! Not only somebody, but somebody who is a marvelous extension of God with all of the ingredients to make me Happy, Joyous, and Free.
The only thing that this Power wanted from me was to acknowledge Its existence and ask for Its help. Just as soon as I did this, I started to reap the rewards by receiving the blessings. I started feeling better physically and emotionally. I started feeling better about myself. This all led to wanting even more so I studied Spirituality and the teachings of Emmet Fox and this not only started getting better each day, they still do 45 years later.
I owe everything that I have to AA for introducing me to Spirituality where I discovered that I now have a purpose in life, a real calling. Since AA has shown me that I can’t keep sobriety unless I give it away, that is why I strive to deliver the message to as many people as I can in any way that I can. Why? So that they can have the same choice and blessings that I had – either accept it and live Happy, Joyous, and Free or not accept it and continue living however they are now.
We have had a great Zoom AA meeting every Monday through Friday at 3:00AM EST since March 2020. This meeting has for its topic every day “Spirituality and (….) and we fill in the blank each day to keep it up to date. We have people here that are from brand new to decades in the AA Program. Some have become sober and/or clean just since joining us and still attend. We would love to welcome you to attend, too. What have you got to lose besides misery, grief, continued control by mind-altering substances? The meeting ID is 6035280704. Password is 399778.
My backstory is not needed here, only that I was a miserable, violent, angry, large, mean, well armed man who was in the process of shoveling more dirt into my own grave because my name is Jim and I am an alcoholic. The answer to the question posed in the topic of what blessings have Spirituality brought to me is EVERYTHING, including my pulse and breath!