Sunday, May 4, 2008

Twelve Steps for Catholics ~ part 10


Sunday Reward
In A.A., after Step Nine, we have what is known as "The Promises." But before we get to them we have many smaller promises along the way. Often we are so busy doing the work of recovery that we miss the smaller promises. Sunday is a day of rest and reflection so take the time to reflect on some of things that you have probably experienced along the way. These are all taken from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Promises of Step Two

Big Book page #25

• There is a solution.

• We have found much of heaven and we have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even dreamed.

• The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences, which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe.

• The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way, which is indeed miraculous.

• He has commenced to accomplish those things for us, which we could never do by ourselves.

Big Book page #28:

• A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works.

• Big Book page #46:

• We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him.

• To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all-inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men.

Big Book page #47:

• As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way.

• It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.

Big Book page #50:

• In the face of collapse and despair, in the face of the total failure of their human resources, they found that a new power, peace, happiness, and sense of direction flowed into them.

Big Book page #57:

• Even so has God restored us all to our right minds.

• But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him.

• When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us!

Promises of Step Three

Big Book page #63.

• More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life.

• As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter.
• An effect, sometimes a very great one, was felt at once.

Big Book page #68.

• At once, we commence to outgrow fear.

Big Book page #70.

• We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people.

Promises of Step Five

Big Book page #75:

• Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted.

• We can look the world in the eye.

• We can be alone at perfect peace and ease.

• Our fears fall from us.

• We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator.

• We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience.


3 comments:

Tom in Vegas said...

"We have found much of heaven and we have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even dreamed."

Man that's beautiful stuff!! The person writing these things (was it Bill Wilson?) was no amateur.

You doing alright?

Mia said...

•>> "We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people"

What do you mean "we look on them as sick people"?You mean because they are different we can say they are "sick"?

I do believe, and maybe I am mistaken, that the lack of faith has driven people to the wrong path, and therefore made them sick. Am I mistaken?

How is an atheist going to go through AA if he/she does not want to believe there is a God? Can AA work for that person?

Adrienne said...

Mia - all are welcome in AA and if you read what the original founders wrote in the "Big Book" you will see that bringing people to a belief in a "higher power" was a big part of recovery.

There are many people in AA who profess to be atheists and do quite well in their recovery. But after almost 20 years of AA, I can attest to the fact that those that believe in some form of "higher power" do so with more joy in their hearts.