BEFORE HE MET DR. BOB, BILL W. had spent six months trying to sober up other alcoholics–without success. A conversation he had with Dr. Silkworth before leaving for Akron changed the way Bill carried the message to Doctor Bob and changed the destiny of millions of alcoholics to come. The part of the message thatContinue reading “The Disease Concept In Early AA – Grapevine Article November 2003 By Anonymous”
Category Archives: Hopelessness
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”
Out Of Death…Strength – As Bill Sees It #49
If we are planning to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol. << << << >> >> >> Such is the paradox of A.A. regeneration: strength arising out of complete defeat and weakness, the loss of one’s old life asContinue reading “Out Of Death…Strength – As Bill Sees It #49”
From The Taproot – As Bill Sees It #305
The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole Society has sprung and flowered. << << << >> >> >> Every newcomer is told, and soon realizes for himself, that his humble admission of powerlessness over alcohol is his first stepContinue reading “From The Taproot – As Bill Sees It #305”
Lois Looks Back On Early Days With Bill W – Grapevine Article December 1944 By Lois W. (Bill’s Wife)
AS the wife of an early AA, some of our experiences and my reactions to my husband’s changed life may be interesting to other wives. Bill was an alcoholic, I believe, from the first drink he ever took, just a few months before our marriage. From then on, for seventeen years, I did everything IContinue reading “Lois Looks Back On Early Days With Bill W – Grapevine Article December 1944 By Lois W. (Bill’s Wife)”
Key To Sobriety – As Bill Sees It # 257
The unique ability of each A.A. to identify himself with, and bring recovery to, the newcomer in no way depends upon his learning, his eloquence, or any special individual skills. The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who has found a key to sobriety. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In my first conversation with Dr.Continue reading “Key To Sobriety – As Bill Sees It # 257”
Instinct To Love – As Bill Sees It #246
When men and women pour so much alcohol into themselves that they destroy their lives, they commit a most unnatural act. Defying their instinctive desire for self-preservation, they seem bent upon self-destruction. They work against their own deepest instinct. As they are progressively humbled by the terrific beating administered by alcohol, the grace of GodContinue reading “Instinct To Love – As Bill Sees It #246”
Hope Born From Hopelessness – As Bill Sees It #217
Letter to Dr. Carl Jung: “Most conversion experiences, whatever their variety, do have a common denominator of ego collapse at depth. The individual faces an impossible dilemma. “In my case the dilemma had been created by my compulsive drinking, and the deep feeling of hopelessness had been vastly deepened by my doctor. It was deepenedContinue reading “Hope Born From Hopelessness – As Bill Sees It #217”