Big Book Study - Post #35
Jim K
Good morning everyone!
We're at page 128 of Chapter 9 -
"The Family Afterward."
The reading from here through the bottom of page
130 centers on, for lack of a better term, spiritual infancy. It's that period of time that many of us experience where we believe that we have found an oasis in the desert of an alcoholic life. Its roots may be in the spiritual experience, or simple and overwhelming
gratitude. What this reading reveals is that, no matter what the circumstance, imbalance in life is not sustainable. Although the pendulum has swung from active alcoholism to over-zealousness in the spiritual realm what will happen, given time, is that we
will become centered. Here our families are asked to allow us that period of time to become centered, to put our AA service work and spiritual lives into proper perspective with all of the other segments of our lives: work, family, home, service, etc. Step
10 is the primary tool to accomplish this desired result.
Beginning at the bottom of page 130 and reading through to the top of page 133 the text discusses family life, taking inventory within our families and developing a new attitude toward the alcoholic member. This is rooted in our new attitude as recovered alcoholics.
Paragraph 2 on page 132: "Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we
burst into merriment over seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others."
Continuing on to the following
paragraph - "So let each family play together or separately, as much as their circumstances
warrant. We are sure God wants us to be Happy, Joyous, and Free." Sounds like we get a glimpse
of what God's will is for us. If we are careful when reading the Big Book we will find that much of God's will is revealed to us. It may be general in nature but it is there. If we're not
"Happy, Joyous, and Free"
we may be missing something in our spiritual lives.
The remainder of this chapter deals with the relationship of the alcoholic to his family, his health and sex relations. It tells us not to be shy about consulting physicians for they are here to help. On page 135 there is a telling sentence - paragraph 1:
"Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a drinker."
Our actions are far more revealing than our words, especially at home.
And, of course, the first three slogans:
First Things First
Live and Let Live
Easy Does It
Have a great day!
Jim K. - The
Into Action Group of Manhattan
6:30pm Wednesdays at St. Francis
De Sales Church
135 East 96th Street (Near Lexington
Avenue)
On Manhattan's Upper East Side
Weekend retreats with Jim: http://www.spiritualawakeningsretreats.com
The Wilson House – The Birthplace of Bill Wilson - Weekend Retreats and Workshops -http://www.wilsonhouse.org/