How can we do an accurate inventory if our vision is distorted? And what if we began our inventory with a greater awareness and curiosity about how our disturbances like our resentments, fears, guilt and shame might be distorting our judgments of people, places, and things including ourselves? What if we were not all orContinue reading “Changing The Way We See In Our 4th Step – Practice These Principles Ray A.”
Category Archives: Big Book Quotes
Sweet Surrender – Grapevine Article March 2024 By Jeff B.
He stopped swimming upstream and dove into Step 3 to find a peace and purpose he never knew The first time I got drunk I remember thinking that I was going to make feeling that way my No. 1 priority until the day I died. For the next 13 years I kept my word, minimallyContinue reading “Sweet Surrender – Grapevine Article March 2024 By Jeff B.”
Black & Blue & Yellow – Grapevine Article April 2024 By Judith M.
Celebrating 50 years of sobriety, she took down her book and marveled at the marks she made that mattered most It was my 50th AA anniversary month and time for a good annual house cleaning. So I got down my original Big Book, a sixth printing of the Second edition, to reminisce. I was struckContinue reading “Black & Blue & Yellow – Grapevine Article April 2024 By Judith M.”
Combining The 3rd Step and 7th Step Prayer
It’s interesting that the 3rd Step Prayer does not have an ‘amen’ as it concludes. I have been told that perhaps the 7th step prayer includes that missing ‘amen’. So try putting these two prayers together. I’ve also taken Bill W’s lead from his slight restatement of the 3rd Step Prayer (in As Bill SeesContinue reading “Combining The 3rd Step and 7th Step Prayer”
Worshipers All – As Bill Sees It #23
We found that we had been indeed worshippers. What a state of mental goose flesh that used to bring on! Had we not variously worshipped people, sentiment, things, money, and ourselves? And then, with a better motive, had we not worshipfully beheld the sunset, the sea, or a flower? Who of us had not lovedContinue reading “Worshipers All – As Bill Sees It #23”
The Spiritual Angle of AA – Grapevine Article October 1955 By Rev. Samuel Shoemaker
The early A.A. got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgment of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Groups and directly from Sam Shoemaker, their former leader in America, and from nowhere else.” — BILL W. IT was clear to Bill W. from the first, I take it, thatContinue reading “The Spiritual Angle of AA – Grapevine Article October 1955 By Rev. Samuel Shoemaker”
A Psychic Change – Grapevine Article March 2017 By Charlie D.
Waking up in a hospital bed, diagnosed with alcoholic dementia, he found his way out of the fog with the help of his Higher Power One spring day, I was admitted to a large general hospital in a major city. When I woke up the next morning, I recognized a hospital room but didn’t knowContinue reading “A Psychic Change – Grapevine Article March 2017 By Charlie D.”
Paradox of Power – Grapevine Article April 1982 By D.H.
Letting go” means discipline, and joy comes through pain FOR SEVERAL years before I began my new life in AA, I taught American literature in a university. One of the writers whose work I enjoyed reading and discussing with students was Emily Dickinson, She captured in a few words the peculiar definitions of experience thatContinue reading “Paradox of Power – Grapevine Article April 1982 By D.H.”
The Power Of Good – Grapevine Article April 1978 By Anonymous
I SHOULD LIKE to write a few words of encouragement to you who are unbelievers, as I am. By unbeliever, I mean you who do not take for granted that there is a transcendent God or an ultimate purpose in human existence. You need not alter your convictions or take it lying down when other members ofContinue reading “The Power Of Good – Grapevine Article April 1978 By Anonymous”
Self Esteem, Sustainability & Our Emotions – Drop The Rock – The Ripple Effect By Fred H.
When we first began working the Steps, some of us had too little self-esteem—an under-expression of a healthy, humble sense of self. Some of us had too much self-esteem—an over-expression of that same basic trait. Some of us suffered from both flaws. As we work Step Ten, part of our responsibility is to be asContinue reading “Self Esteem, Sustainability & Our Emotions – Drop The Rock – The Ripple Effect By Fred H.”