Topic: Finding Your Spiritual Basis Of Life 2/1/09 - 2/7/09

[DavidNOLA]

"But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life - or else."

AA Big Book page 44

I remember reading this my first weekend of sobriety. I was desperate and wanted a new of way of life very much. Since I was still able to see my son and spend that Saturday with him, I found myself thanking God for the first time in years. After reading the "or else" part, I admit that I was nervous.
However, I could play the tape of my years of drinking and using drugs and realize that the farther I went down into a huge void where spirituality did not exist, the worse off I became. I needed to regain a foothold on the path to spirituality. The only way I could even begin was to admit that there was indeed a power greater than myself.
I am grateful that the will to find a power greater than myself came quickly. Of course I have to show gratitude to my great family and my new family of Alcoholics Anonymous, both of whom were able to see the good person who existed inside of me even though I could not. Without either of them, I probably would have become disillusioned. Because in the AA family, I could also see the sanity, and serenity, that was radiating from folks that had time. I wanted what they had. That was new to me. Before when I tried AA, I did not feel or see anything I wanted and realized I wouldn't and couldn't surrender.

Since this is the second month, I am sure many will be focusing on Step Two. I look forward to hearing the stories of how others "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

[bradh]

I've got to be honest here - I really had to fake the spiritual aspect in my first year - my home group was definitely a Power greater than myself, and so it filled that aspect of my life.

Shortly after my first year, I packed up and moved to a different area, (and did so again several years later). I couldn't get attached to groups in my new places easily, and so came to realize that I had to find a power in a spiritual sense.

I found a church I was comfortable with, and so developed a sense of spirituality with a minister who encouraged me to find my own way, and my own Higher Power (she too, was in recovery).

My journey lasted ten years or so, until I came to the realization that I was a skeptic at heart, and an atheist (or at least a very skeptical agnostic). It's been tough for me to square that knowledge with the strong emphasis on "spirituality" in AA and NA. I take some comfort in the fact that the founders could never bring themselves to condemn atheists/agnostics, and to grudgingly admit that they too had a place in recovery.

I read the Big Book and other "approved literature", and hope that my ESH can help others who are struggling with the "spiritual" aspect of the program. Thanks.

[clean42day]

I became convinced there was a higher power in my life by looking back at my past . There were just tooooo many times where I was in life endangering situations and there was nothing else to explain why I lived through them but divine intervention. Plus I had a near death experience and was introduced to my soul first hand.

I took that concept of unconditional protection and love and applied it to my present life in recovery. My first year was about praying dilligently to build a bridge to that connection......and I still do.

I see God as a loving and guiding spiritual parent..........

I didn't feel the need to pick, name, label, or define God - or call him anything when I was new - and I still don't. O only say "God" here because it is a universal concept that everyone understands. rather - I allow him to reveal himself to me....from my first NDE - he revealed himself to me to be pure and profound love.

I simply pray to the great spirit of the universe.......
the one that cradeled me in the palm of his hand when I was dying that day.

I am a spiritually eclectic person and take many of the spiritual principals found in common with many of the worlds religions...........

I believe that - when I live those spiritual principals into my life - that is the path to a God of my understanding.

it's been working for 6 years now

sometimes I do forget that I need a complete and utter dependence on him - and that is when I get into trouble and become restless, irritable and discontent.......my free will and ego would like to believe that I am "well" and can do this on my own.

This condition usually reminds me - I am the one who moved and forgot to turn my day over to him.

thanks for letting me share

light and love

Gail

[jeff_f]

"But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life - or else."

AA Big Book page 44

Good topic.. I found that for the first few years I had issues with this. I just tied the concept of a spiritual basis with religion and it just made it hard on me to accept AA and it's tenets. It took time for me to gradually get over step 3 and move on in my growth in AA. Now I can accept that there is a HP in my life. With out my HP I could not have gotten over drinking and drugging. It's with his help and love that I can get by each day and stay clean and sober.

Not much more to say now,..

Peace Out
Jeff F

[sioux]

"The spiritual life is not a theory, we have to live it." "You can't transmit something you haven't got"

Those are the two single statements I read that convinced me that I had better get to work in developing a working relationship with my Creator if I were to stay sober because I kept hearing in meetings I don't get to keep what I am not willing to give away.

[Bronx850]

The Light

The well was empty, only darkness exited

The soul dwells in darkness.

Welcome the Holy Spirit.

Fill the well. Let it overflow

Let the Soul overcome flesh.

Ascended into the light, the light spark the soul.

Ecstasy and peace was the result.

Descended into the flesh.

Awoke, ecstasy and peace was the result.

The well is willing, the soul has rose.

Praise the Lord; the truth is the light into the Kingdom.

Ed 01/16/09 :195