Daily Reflections reading January 22nd
Lets Keep It Simple
A few
hours later I took my leave of Dr. Bob. . . The wonderful, old, broad smile was
on his face as he said almost jokingly, “Remember, Bill, let’s not louse this thing
up. Let’s keep it simple!” I turned away, unable to say a word. That was the
last time I ever saw him. ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p 214
After years of sobriety I
occasionally ask myself: “Can it be this simple?” Then, at meetings, I see
former cynics and skeptics who have walked the A.A. path out of hell by
packaging their lives, without alcohol, into twenty-four hour segments, during
which they practice a few principles to the best of their individual abilities.
And then I know again that, while it isn’t always easy, if I keep it simple, it
works.
© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
My thoughts on January 22nd Reading
“The 12 Steps are simple and workable by ANY
person. Let’s not louse it up with Freudian complexes and things
interesting to the scientific mind” Dr. Bob. S
Some people today use these complicities as excuses as to why they drank many are diagnosed and labeled with many fancy names and initials before stopping drinking, this leaves many in the disease of alcoholism
Because they are looking for other reasons, for the actions they take while drinking and acting out in despair, this is not the way to keep it simple yes many in our program have mental conditions that require medication
But would it not be better to detox before being labeled We all suffer from many complex conditions of life, some cope well, some like most of us turned to booze to cope with the stresses of life
Some of us have found when we were honest with the medical profession we could seek out the other kinds of help we needed to cope with life including medications thank God our preamble tells us AA does not wish to engage in any controversy neither endorses or opposes any causes, this is keeping it simple for all to enter recovery
Keeping it simple is thoroughly followed the path of recovery, simple but not easy, telling our stories, what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now, I decided I wanted what AA had and I was willing to go to any length to get it
Carrying the message is the basics, but I needed to get it before I could give it back, my disease is not cured and never will be, if I stray to far for the teachings of AA I will be lost again to suffer the misery of my past and will most likely get drunk again
Now how simple can that be the “KISS - Keep It Simple Spiritually” method of the steps God asked me to give up one thing, alcohol, and he took my desire to drink away, I needed to get humble and honest I was not constitutionally incapable of being honest
But I needed to become humble enough to ask God to remove the desire to drink from me, I needed to take the time to find out who I was and who I could become thru the teachings, AA gave me a new life and the tools to use, the big book, step book, slogans, etc
If I get active in helping others to help themselves I will stay sober and have a happy life, the very basics of AA is to learn the 12 steps and to reach out to others who suffer from our disease simply show them the unconditional love and fellowship we got when we came into the halls
I just had to get active in my own recovery and by doing that I could help others see the way just by sharing my Experience, Strength, and Hope, being at the meetings day after day was enough not to keep me sober
I stick to the basics of recovery and I must do my part to make it possible for others to recover God works thru people stay with the basics and AA will carry on for us all, KISS = Keep It Simple Spiritually (simple but never easy to change myself)
God Bless you Al M
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