Big Book Study

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #31

Good morning everyone! [Thanks again to karen for filling in on Friday!]

Chapter 7 starts on page 89. It is dedicated in its entirety to Step
12. "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." The bulk of this chapter is
dedicated to carrying the message. Specifically from the beginning
on page 89 to page 100. Why is this?

Let's put the text into historical perspective - During the period
of time when the book was written there were about 60 to 100 members
sober - this after 4 years of work. There were two basic centers of
activity: New York which was intellectual/psychological, and
Akron/Cleveland which were more evangelical in nature. When
originally written the 12th Step said this: "Having had a spiritual
experience as the result of this course of action, we tried to carry
this message to others - especially alcoholics, and to practice
these principles in all our affairs." Clearly the mindset is one of
conversion, spreading the word. Chapter 7 was written with the idea
that it was (a) good to increase our numbers and that (b) carrying
the message is the way to do it. They also believed that the message
wasn't one that required a "personality" to convey it. Certainly
Bill and Bob weren't about to go on tour. This book was the perfect
vehicle to carry the message. By 1940, even Bill was surprised at
the success of the book in carrying the message.

When we read through these pages we see things that astonish us: We
aren't convincing anyone that they need this program - we are
demonstrating what it has done for us. We are attracting, not
promoting. The assumption is that the alcoholic is ready to listen
to the message. Page 94 - paragraph 1: "Make it plain he is not
under pressure, that he needn't see you again if he doesn't want
to." There is an old saying that isn't repeated often today - "AA is
a program for those who want it, not necessarily for those who need
it."

We will also be astonished at the length to which we are expected to
go in helping others. Paragraph 1 on page 97 really details what is
expected of us.

"Never avoid these responsibilities, but be sure you are doing the
right thing if you assume them. Helping others is the foundation
stone of your recovery. A kindly act once in a while isn't enough.
You have to act the Good Samaritan every day, if need be. It may
mean the loss of many nights' sleep, great interference with your
pleasures, interruptions to your business. It may mean sharing your
money and your home, counseling frantic wives and relatives,
innumerable trips to police courts, sanitariums, hospitals, jails
and asylums. Your telephone may jangle at any time of the day or
night. Your wife may sometimes say she is neglected. A drunk may
smash the furniture in your home, or burn a mattress. You may have
to fight with him if he is violent. Sometimes you will have to call
a doctor and administer sedatives under his direction. Another
time you may have to send for the police or an ambulance.
Occasionally you will have to meet such conditions." That's pretty
involved!

The rehab community has taken much of this responsibility from us.
Whether that is to the detriment of AA is for a separate discussion.

With our next post we will continue with Page 100 - last paragraph.
We'll discuss what our spiritual awakening has done for us and what
being a "recovered alcoholic" means in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Have a great day!

Jim