angussdundee
07-30-2007, 05:34 PM
I well remember how desperate my financial situation was when my head started to clear after three or four months into my early recovery. I got on my soap box before, during and after my AA meetings telling all who would listen, how hard it was to - pay back my creditors, stop the repossession of our house, open a bank account, get my drivers licence back, afford insurance, pay accumulated inland revenue taxes etc. etc. etc.
I soon found out that 'when I started to listen to them instead of them listening to me' my situation was far from unique.
The bottom line is surely this; facing up to our financial responsibility helps us to see and to face the utter havoc brought about by 'our' addiction to alcohol.
'
My own early sponsor - now my true friend, would always remind me to look at my step four grudge list when I was feeling burned up and in a state of self pity. Many, many times he would say to me " Why don't you go and read Chapter Five, you know the page, the one that tells us that selfish - self centeredness is the root of our troubles"?
And it reads; "So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self will run riot, though he usualy doesn't think so. Above everything we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must or it kills us! God makes that possible".
They say there are no 'musts' in AA - well, there are two right there!
It goes on to read; "This is the how and the why of it. we had to quit playing God. It didn't work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our director. He is the principal; we are his agents. He is the Father, and we are his children. Most good ideas are simple, and this was the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom".
If it sounds simple - that's because it is!
God help the newcomers and God help us all,
anguss.
I soon found out that 'when I started to listen to them instead of them listening to me' my situation was far from unique.
The bottom line is surely this; facing up to our financial responsibility helps us to see and to face the utter havoc brought about by 'our' addiction to alcohol.
'
My own early sponsor - now my true friend, would always remind me to look at my step four grudge list when I was feeling burned up and in a state of self pity. Many, many times he would say to me " Why don't you go and read Chapter Five, you know the page, the one that tells us that selfish - self centeredness is the root of our troubles"?
And it reads; "So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self will run riot, though he usualy doesn't think so. Above everything we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must or it kills us! God makes that possible".
They say there are no 'musts' in AA - well, there are two right there!
It goes on to read; "This is the how and the why of it. we had to quit playing God. It didn't work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our director. He is the principal; we are his agents. He is the Father, and we are his children. Most good ideas are simple, and this was the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom".
If it sounds simple - that's because it is!
God help the newcomers and God help us all,
anguss.