THE FIRST and most crucial Step in the recovery of any alcoholic is surrender to the fact that he or she is powerless over alcohol and that life has become unmanageable. Sounds simple enough, like most of AA’s principles. But obviously, it isn’t always easy for the active alcoholic.
Thousands of AA members who are now enjoying daily sobriety will readily attest that this surrender was their biggest hurdle. No help, no progress or recovery of any kind could begin until they inwardly acknowledged their complete helplessness in the hands of the god Bacchus. Then, and only then, could they pursue the remaining eleven Steps of the AA program, which would deal with the underlying causes and the symptoms of their illness.
The second surrender was recorded in AA’s Third Step, where we “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him” Where our first act of surrender may be termed “mental,” the Third Step surrender was obviously “spiritual.” We were told that it could be accomplished only on a daily basis, and that there was only one key, willingness. We were also told that the effectiveness of this whole AA program would rest upon how well and earnestly we tried to work this Step daily.
For me, this was and continues to be the most difficult of all the Steps. Yet I have found it the most rewarding. On those days when I have really decided to seek and do God’s will, rather than my own, I have experienced sobriety in the fullest sense. Tension, anxiety, worry, and concern for the future all seem to fade away when I really surrender–with my heart!
A paradox is defined by Webster as something that is “contrary to expectation” or “a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense, and yet is true.” Certainly, Step Three is a paradox, a divine paradox, that really works when we decide to try it.
Our egos, plans, illusions, and fantasies all have to suffer in the process, but it does work. I believe it’s the very same concept that Jesus preached when He said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Like thousands of other AA members, I thought, “What will become of me if I turn my will and my life over to the care of God?” But then, through His grace. I was able to look back and ask. “What became of me before, when my entire life was run on self-will?” The answer was all too clear: I had nearly died!
Of course, there are many acts of surrender in the other AA Steps, but for me, the Third Step is foremost. The daily act of surrender proves that He does enter into our lives just as soon as we become willing enough to let Him.
May God help me to surrender all that which I have not yet surrendered.