Step Eleven

"If circumstances warrant, we ask our wives or friends to join us in morning meditation. If we belong to a religious denomination which requires a definite morning devotion, we attend to that also. If not members of religious bodies, we sometimes select and memorize a few set prayers which emphasize the principles we have been discussing. There are many helpful books also. Suggestions about these may be obtained from one's priest, minister, or rabbi. Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer."

Pass.

I have a two year old son and I work 9 to 5 - I reckon that qualifies me at the moment as being one whose cicumstances generally do no warrant. I also do not belong to a religious denomination.

However, I have memorised a few set prayers, one in particular which, for me anyway, emphasises "the principles we have been discussing", the 3rd step prayer. Not to mention the catch all phrase (sometimes said in exasperation) "They Will Not Mine"

I guess another point worth noting:

"There are many helpful books also."

This is probably truer today than it was when this was written. There are a wealth of "daily readings" books, the original and probably best know one (which is not officially AA approved literature) is "Twenty-Four Hours a Day". It's over 50 years old and a bit too "religious" for some.

There are now (probably) hundreds of others of good quality (in my never humble opinion) ranging in flavour across different sexes and genders (there is a difference!), varieties of addiction and different levels and versions of spirituality.

I can certainly vouch for some of the other Hazelden books (the earlier, simpler ones) from the '80s and '90s as well as a couple of top quality AA approved ones, most notably "Daily Relections" and "As Bill Sees It" (both of which are available from many meetings).

The beauty of these books is twofold:

1. They provide a structure and a focus to the process, usually a reading and a reflection of some sort, often followed by something to focus on for the rest of the day, sometimes in the form of a prayer; and

2. They always seem to be relevant to that day (but I think this is another of God's little tricks - everything spiritual is always relevant to every day!)

If you're anything like me - the topic to focus on seems to disappear about five minutes after I walk out the door - but I still treasure the days (before my sober cup of life filled beyond overflowing) when this was the only way I could have started the day.

I must find time to do this again!!! (Take that as a prayer.)

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PS. Only noticed after I posted this how relevant my previous post (contempt prior to investigation) was to the concluding sentences of this extract:

"Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer."

posted by bpresent | 6.10.05 | 2 comments...

Contempt prior to investigation

I've decided to deviate from my current path of a review of the Big Book version of Step 11 and post one of my all time favourite quotes (which I just happened to stumble across yet again).

Like many other quotes in AA literature, it's not from a member of any twelve step programme (the man who it's attributed to died 30 years before Bill W got sober) but has been adopted over the years.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation."

Herbert Spencer.

Kind of a cock-eyed double negative almost sarcasitic statement (it was stated or written well over a hundred years ago) but once distilled it makes sense to me and rings true of the way I often judged the world until about ten years ago (when I became teachable):

If I choose to live a life where I refuse to open my mind to new ways of thinking and new experiences then I will remain in the same place I am now - nothing will change.

That's how I read it anyway.

The quote is particularly relevant to my life experience of coming to grips with a "God as I understand him" (or do not understand him as the case may be).

It's very easy to prove the non-existence of my old version of God (the guy with the white beard dishing out thunderbolts) - and I never failed to win those arguments.

It was not until I let go of that particular old idea absolutely that I started to see things differently, at first a little and then, later, a lot.

I'm obviously not alone as it is quoted at the end of an appendix to the Big Book Appendix II - Spiritual Experience.

This particular appendix is tucked away right away at the very end of the Big Book, which is kind of a shame. For me (a disillusioned non-believer) it was a great insight... But I guess you get to see these things when the time is ready: "Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake.". But that's the subject for another post.

posted by bpresent | 1.10.05 | 3 comments...

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge for His will for us and the power to carry that out.

3rd Step Prayer 7th Step Prayer 11th Step Prayer

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi Serenity Prayer

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