angussdundee
11-17-2007, 09:16 AM
"The simple AA program has become so complicated that it is now almost impossible for new members to bring it into their lives in it's entirety".
These are not my words, they were the words of my first AA sponsor as he compassionately and skillfully took me through the twelve step program, according to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, in the living room of his house some years ago.
He explained to me his reasons for insisting on 'keeping it simple'. He went on;
"Many sponsors, even though they have managed to do the steps in their own way, often find that their way is so individual, so personal to them, that they cannot pass it on to others without help and guidance.
This guidance often comes from non AA literature, modern treatment centers, non alcoholic - alcohol councilors ??? who have invented new and more complicated ways of doing the steps, hospitals and even other twelve step fellowships all have their own ideas as to how to work this program.
Although this is no doubt well intentioned it goes without saying that if we replace the body text of any book we may still have a book. It might even be a good book, but it will not be the same book.
This has happened many times with our AA big book. the steps are retained but the instructions are discarded".
These observations that he shared with me in his home were of course his own opinions and not necessarily those of AA as a whole.
We then went on to read an extract from the big book, from the story entitled 'He sold himself short' on pages 291 and 292 (third edition). It describes how Dr Bob took a 'pigeon' through the AA program. The remarkable thing about this was the time scale involved. The candidate was only two or three weeks sober at the time and Dr Bob took him through the program in three or four hours on his afternoon off. It's important to remark here that the candidate was eighteen years sober when he wrote his story for the Big Book of alcoholics anonymous.
It already works, it really does. So why change it.... ;)
Keep it simple,
Anguss.
These are not my words, they were the words of my first AA sponsor as he compassionately and skillfully took me through the twelve step program, according to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, in the living room of his house some years ago.
He explained to me his reasons for insisting on 'keeping it simple'. He went on;
"Many sponsors, even though they have managed to do the steps in their own way, often find that their way is so individual, so personal to them, that they cannot pass it on to others without help and guidance.
This guidance often comes from non AA literature, modern treatment centers, non alcoholic - alcohol councilors ??? who have invented new and more complicated ways of doing the steps, hospitals and even other twelve step fellowships all have their own ideas as to how to work this program.
Although this is no doubt well intentioned it goes without saying that if we replace the body text of any book we may still have a book. It might even be a good book, but it will not be the same book.
This has happened many times with our AA big book. the steps are retained but the instructions are discarded".
These observations that he shared with me in his home were of course his own opinions and not necessarily those of AA as a whole.
We then went on to read an extract from the big book, from the story entitled 'He sold himself short' on pages 291 and 292 (third edition). It describes how Dr Bob took a 'pigeon' through the AA program. The remarkable thing about this was the time scale involved. The candidate was only two or three weeks sober at the time and Dr Bob took him through the program in three or four hours on his afternoon off. It's important to remark here that the candidate was eighteen years sober when he wrote his story for the Big Book of alcoholics anonymous.
It already works, it really does. So why change it.... ;)
Keep it simple,
Anguss.