A power greater than myself... Part 2

One more thought on this question.

It's not just the idea that there are powers greater than myself all around, all the time that stumped me when I first showed up as a wet drunk, it was the idea that reliance was based on blind faith. I came in as an agnostic. How can I possibly know if there is really anything out there? How can anyone? Those guys that believe in this higher power thing either learned it as a kid in Sunday school, or they are just afraid of dying. And if they just believe real hard (whistle past the graveyard) they won't be so afraid.

I have always been a big fan of the scientific method. Don't give me a bunch of mumbo-jumbo and except me to buy it. I want proof. Scientific proof. One scientist will concoct a formula, mix a given amount of substance "A" with a given amount of substance "B" and he always gets compound "C". Take that same experiment anywhere in the world, follow the mixing instructions carefully and I'll always get the same result, "C". That's the kind of proof I like.

The proposition that was put forward to me by the men in the rooms when I first showed up was the same. They told me that I couldn't say that a simple set of spiritual principles as outlined in the program would not work on my problems if I didn't conduct the experiment. It was suggested that I follow the mixing instructions exactly, and if I didn't like the result at the end of the process, I could have my old stuff back, no questions asked. They used my own words to box me in.

What did I have to lose? Again, I was blessed with a lack of good alternative ideas. Falteringly, fearfully, apprehensively I began to mix "A" & "B".
This program (AA) does not work for a lot of people, every other program I know anything about doesn't work for a bunch of folks. But I tell you this, what really didn't work worth a s*** was trying to fix me all by my self in secret. That my friend was a fools errand.

I made a very hard going of life near the end of my personal goat path. The old relationships with my favorite substances was to be no more. Those old happy days were over. Over any measurable length of time this stuff only gets worse, it never gets better. That bitter news sounded like a death sentence to me. But I was wrong. It was the truth, and the truth will set me free. Knowing the truth about myself is a very powerful medicine. It is the beginning of all progress.

If the idea of wearing this world, warts and all, as a loose fitting garment is at all appealing to you, try what I tried, You really have very little to lose. Maybe a few hours spent with people who laugh and have that old sparkle in their eyes. But compared to the hours that I squandered in self induced oblivion, there really is no comparison.

As always, a man will decide for himself what he will and what he will not do, but don't let false pride, fear or contempt prior to investigation keep you from looking at this for what it is. This power greater than ourselves wants you to be happy and free, but this power isn't a labor saving device, action is required.

Nobody can get anyone sober, not a sponsor, not a meeting, and not just saying no. Without the needed power, and working the steps is how I found it, nothing changes.

There is an old Chinese proverb that goes something like this,
"Trust in God, but row away from the rocks."

Your friend on the road to the good stuff,
Richard S.