Tag Archives: Alcoholics Anonymous
Help from a Higher Power
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Part One Help from a Higher Power Tuesday, December 10, 2019 Step Two: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. [1] Yes, we are carrying our own death warrant with us, but it is teaching us not to rely on ourselves, but on a God whose… Continue Reading Help from a Higher Power
Healing Addiction
Western Christianity Healing Addiction Thursday, September 20, 2018 I’ve shared some of Western Christianity’s weaknesses—for example, how we have over-emphasized separateness, sin, and external religious exercises. But Western Christianity has unique gifts and strengths to offer. The dynamism of Western civilization has led to what I might call the “secularization” of the Gospel message into… Continue Reading Healing Addiction
Electric Circuits
Contemplation in Action: Week 2 Electric Circuits Wednesday, July 5, 2017 Moses’ experience of the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6) links action and contemplation as the very starting place of the Judeo-Christian tradition. His encounter is surely an inner one, but it immediately drives him outwardly, as deep inner experience tends to do. It is a… Continue Reading Electric Circuits
Humility and Honesty
Spirituality of Letting Go: Week 2 Humility and Honesty Thursday, September 8, 2016 The only people who grow in truth are those who are humble and honest. This is traditional Christian doctrine and is, in effect, the maxim of Alcoholics Anonymous. Without those two qualities—humility and honesty—we just don’t grow. If we try to use… Continue Reading Humility and Honesty
The Divine Paradox
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 2 The Divine Paradox Friday, June 10, 2016 We’re many months away from Christmas, but I want to share with you Bill Wilson’s Christmas letter to A. A. members years ago: Greetings on Our 10th Christmas, 1944 Yes, it’s in the air! The spirit of Christmas once more warms this poor distraught… Continue Reading The Divine Paradox
Step Twelve
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 2 Step Twelve Thursday, June 9, 2016 Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. [1] Step Twelve tells addicts that they will never really come to appropriate the power and importance… Continue Reading Step Twelve
Step Eleven
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 2 Step Eleven Wednesday, June 8, 2016 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out. [1] In his book, Addiction and Grace, psychiatrist Gerald May—who was a personal… Continue Reading Step Eleven
Steps Eight and Nine
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 2 Steps Eight and Nine Monday, June 6, 2016 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. [1] Making a list of the persons… Continue Reading Steps Eight and Nine
Steps Six and Seven
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 2 Steps Six and Seven Sunday, June 5, 2016 Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings. [1] Here again we see how Alcoholics Anonymous is aware of the power of powerlessness. All we can really do is be “entirely ready”… Continue Reading Steps Six and Seven
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 1 Summary
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 1 Summary: Sunday, May 29-Friday, June 3, 2016 In creating Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, with typical American pragmatism, designed a truly practical program that really worked to change lives. (Sunday) Step One: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. (Monday) Step… Continue Reading Twelve-Step Spirituality: Week 1 Summary