Daily Reprieve

From the Daily Reflections of December 12;

The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism.   (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 17)

The most far-reaching Twelfth Step work was the publication of our Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. Few can equal that book for carrying the message. My idea is to get out of myself and simply do what I can. Even if I haven’t been asked to sponsor and my phone rarely rings, I am still able to do Twelfth Step work. I get involved in “brotherly and harmonious action.” At meetings I show up early to greet people and to help set up, and to share my experience, strength and hope. I also do what I can with service work. My Higher Power gives me exactly what He wants me to do at any given point in my recovery and, if I let Him, my willingness will bring Twelfth Step work automatically.

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I believe in the value of 12th Step work.  It is a reminder of something that is so easy to forget once the consequences of my past drinking fade. Active alcoholism is hell.  It is dangerous and humiliating.

The many manifestations of the 12th Step are a very practical and concrete way of living out the ideals of the principals and translating my spiritual tools from theory to skill.  It causes me to connect with my Higher Power as I emulate His actions of loving intervention and presence.

Finally, it is a worthy activity that can be used to build intimacy between me and my recovery Fellowship.  The one thing I lack is the consistent courage to overcome my social anxiety and stay with the process.  I am working on it, and I am thankful anytime I am apart of the solution and not the problem.

From the Daily Reflections of December 11;

. . . we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This is to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.   (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 192)

Experience has taught me that my alcoholic personality tends to be grandiose. While having seemingly good intentions, I can go off on tangents in pursuit of my “causes.” My ego takes over and I lose sight of my primary purpose. I may even take credit for God’s handiwork in my life. Such an overstated feeling of my own importance is dangerous to my sobriety and could cause great harm to A.A. as a whole.

My safeguard, the Twelfth Tradition, serves to keep me humble. I realize, both as an individual and as a member of the Fellowship, that I cannot boast of my accomplishments, and that “God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.”

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In the military, we had a saying; “stay in your lane.”  This was a reference to our time on the firing range.  Soldiers are lined up with a particular firing lane with its own particular target. Sometimes a soldier will get confused, lose focus and fire at the targets meant for the soldier next to him.  That soldier’s targets would not be hit and his neighbors targets would be riddled.  Both lanes would be corrupted and of no value in evaluating the firing skill of either soldier.

The phrase “stay in your lane” was generalized to mean that every service member has their own place of service.  Genuine humility helps me stay focused on my own particular targets.  I acknowledge my place, and my dependence on trusting others to know theirs.  Humility for me is thus a special kind of trust in Gomu (God of my understanding) and my Fellows in recovery.