Bruce McPherson

Virtue & Self Deception – As Bill Sees It – # 205

I used to take comfort from an exaggerated belief in my own honesty. My New England kinfolk had taught me the sanctity of all business commitments and contracts, saying, “A man’s word is his bond.” After this rigorous conditioning, business honesty always came easy; I never flimflammed anyone. However, this small fragment of readily wonContinue reading “Virtue & Self Deception – As Bill Sees It – # 205”

Perfect Humility As Bill Sees It – 106

For myself, I try to seek out the truest definition of humility that I can. This will not be the perfect definition, because I shall always be imperfect. At this writing, I would choose one like this: “Absolute humility would consist of a state of complete freedom from myself, freedom from all the claims thatContinue reading “Perfect Humility As Bill Sees It – 106”

This Matter of Honesty – Grapevine Article Aug 1961 By Bill W.

The problem of honesty touches nearly every aspect of our lives . There are , for example , the widespread and amazing phenomena of self – deception . There are those rather dreadful brands of reckless truth – telling , which are so often lacking in prudence and love . Then there are those countlessContinue reading “This Matter of Honesty – Grapevine Article Aug 1961 By Bill W.”

This Matter of Fear – Grapevine Article January 1962 By Bill W.

As the AA Book says, “ Fear is an evil, corroding thread; the fabric of our lives is shot through with it. ” Fear is surely a bar to reason, and to love, and of course it invariably powers anger, vainglory, and aggression. It underlies maudlin guilt and paralyzing depression. President Roosevelt once made theContinue reading “This Matter of Fear – Grapevine Article January 1962 By Bill W.”

What Is Acceptance? – Grapevine Article March 1962 By Bill W

One way to get at the meaning of the principle of acceptance is to meditate upon it in the context of AA’s much used prayer , “ God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change , courage to change the things I can , and the wisdom to know the differenceContinue reading “What Is Acceptance? – Grapevine Article March 1962 By Bill W”