"I earnestly advise every alcoholic (addict) to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray."
William D. Silkworth, M.D.
"The Doctor's Opinion" (concluding paragraph)
Alcoholics Anonymous (the "Big Book")
At the hospital I was separated from alcohol for the last
time. Treatment seemed wise, for I showed signs of delirium
tremens.
There I humbly offered myself to God, as I then I understood
Him, to do with me as He would. I placed myself
unreservedly under His care and direction. I admitted for
the first time that of myself I was nothing; that without
Him I was lost. I ruthlessly faced my sins and became
willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root
and branch. I have not had a drink since.
My schoolmate visited me, and I fully acquainted him
with my problems and deficiencies. We made a list of
people I had hurt or toward whom I felt resentment. I expressed
my entire willingness to approach these individuals,
admitting my wrong. Never was I to be critical of them.
I was to right all such matters to the utmost of my ability.
I was to test my thinking by the new God-consciousness
within. Common sense would thus become uncommon
sense. I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only for
direction and strength to meet my problems as He would
have me. Never was I to pray for myself, except as my
requests bore on my usefulness to others. Then only might
I expect to receive. But that would be in great measure.
My friend promised when these things were done I
would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator;
that I would have the elements of a way of living which
answered all my problems. Belief in the power of
God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were
the essential requirements.
Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant
destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things
to the Father of Light who presides over us all.
These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the
moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric.
There was a sense of victory, followed by such a peace
and serenity as I had never know. There was utter confidence.
I felt lifted up, as though the great clean wind of a
mountain top blew through and through. God comes to
most men gradually, but His impact on me was sudden
and profound.
For a moment I was alarmed, and called my friend, the
doctor, to ask if I were still sane. He listened in wonder as
I talked.
Finally he shook his head saying, "Something has happened
to you I don't understand. But you had better hang
on to it. Anything is better than the way you were." The
good doctor now sees many men who have such experiences.
He knows that they are real.
While I lay in the hospital the thought came that there
were thousands of hopeless alcoholics who might be glad
to have what had been so freely given me. Perhaps I could
help some of them. They in turn might work with others.
My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of
demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly
was it imperative to work with others as he
had worked with me. Faith without works was dead,
he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic!
For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he
could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If
he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he
drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed.
With us it is just like that.
_______________________
Excerpted from Chapter 1, Bill's Story, the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, available for free that this website: http://www.healingresource.org/book.cgi?Page_1
Take a look -- what do you have to lose ? What do you have to gain ?
