Big Book Study

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #31

Good morning everyone! [Thanks again to karen for filling in on Friday!]

Chapter 7 starts on page 89. It is dedicated in its entirety to Step
12. "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps,
we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these
principles in all our affairs." The bulk of this chapter is
dedicated to carrying the message. Specifically from the beginning
on page 89 to page 100. Why is this?

Let's put the text into historical perspective - During the period
of time when the book was written there were about 60 to 100 members
sober - this after 4 years of work. There were two basic centers of
activity: New York which was intellectual/psychological, and
Akron/Cleveland which were more evangelical in nature. When
originally written the 12th Step said this: "Having had a spiritual
experience as the result of this course of action, we tried to carry
this message to others - especially alcoholics, and to practice
these principles in all our affairs." Clearly the mindset is one of
conversion, spreading the word. Chapter 7 was written with the idea
that it was (a) good to increase our numbers and that (b) carrying
the message is the way to do it. They also believed that the message
wasn't one that required a "personality" to convey it. Certainly
Bill and Bob weren't about to go on tour. This book was the perfect
vehicle to carry the message. By 1940, even Bill was surprised at
the success of the book in carrying the message.

When we read through these pages we see things that astonish us: We
aren't convincing anyone that they need this program - we are
demonstrating what it has done for us. We are attracting, not
promoting. The assumption is that the alcoholic is ready to listen
to the message. Page 94 - paragraph 1: "Make it plain he is not
under pressure, that he needn't see you again if he doesn't want
to." There is an old saying that isn't repeated often today - "AA is
a program for those who want it, not necessarily for those who need
it."

We will also be astonished at the length to which we are expected to
go in helping others. Paragraph 1 on page 97 really details what is
expected of us.

"Never avoid these responsibilities, but be sure you are doing the
right thing if you assume them. Helping others is the foundation
stone of your recovery. A kindly act once in a while isn't enough.
You have to act the Good Samaritan every day, if need be. It may
mean the loss of many nights' sleep, great interference with your
pleasures, interruptions to your business. It may mean sharing your
money and your home, counseling frantic wives and relatives,
innumerable trips to police courts, sanitariums, hospitals, jails
and asylums. Your telephone may jangle at any time of the day or
night. Your wife may sometimes say she is neglected. A drunk may
smash the furniture in your home, or burn a mattress. You may have
to fight with him if he is violent. Sometimes you will have to call
a doctor and administer sedatives under his direction. Another
time you may have to send for the police or an ambulance.
Occasionally you will have to meet such conditions." That's pretty
involved!

The rehab community has taken much of this responsibility from us.
Whether that is to the detriment of AA is for a separate discussion.

With our next post we will continue with Page 100 - last paragraph.
We'll discuss what our spiritual awakening has done for us and what
being a "recovered alcoholic" means in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Have a great day!

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #32

Good morning everyone!

Let's go to page 100, last paragraph-

"Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things
alcoholics are not supposed to do. People have said that we must not
go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our homes; we must
shun friends who drink; we must avoid moving pictures which show
drinking scenes; we must not go into bars; our friends must hide
their bottles if we go to their house; we mustn't think or be
reminded about alcohol at all. Our experience shows this isn't
necessarily so."

"We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who cannot meet
them, still has an alcoholic mind; there is something the matter
with his spiritual status."

These are some very important lines in the Big Book. Having an
alcoholic mind means we haven't had a spiritual awakening, we
haven't changed sufficiently to have recovered from alcoholism. If,
when confronted with circumstances where we obsess on the alcohol in
a given setting, we should be taking our own inventories to reveal
why this is so. Let's go back for a moment to page 84, at the
bottom. The third sentance in the paragraph at the bottom says: "We
will seldom be interested in liquor." Reviewing these 10th step
promises we see that we have an entirely new state of mind when it
comes to alcohol.

Returning to page 101 it is easy to see why we are on dangerous
ground when we continue to obsess about alcohol when in such
situations. Remember, we cannot defeat this obsession on our own, it
can only be vanquished through a spiritual awakening that is THE
RESULT of the 12 Steps.

So, to summarize: if we have had a spiritual awakening and are in
fit spiritual condition we are able to go anywhere if our motives
are thoroughly good. Does that mean someone can go to a strip club
and drink cokes all night while indulging in a favorite defect of
character? Probably not, because his motives are spiritually flawed.
But can he go to a family gathering where there will be people who
can drink with impunity? Most definitely, assuming he is in fit
spiritual condition.

Let's turn to page 102 paragraph 2 - "Your job now is to be at the
place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others, so never
hesitate to go anywhere if you can be helpful. You should not
hesitate to visit the most sordid spot on earth on such an errand.
Keep on the firing line of life with these motives and God will keep
you unharmed."

What does this mean? Sometimes we may find ourselves in situations
where there is alcohol involved. If we are not in fit spiritual
condition our ability to be of maximum helpfulness to others is
compromised. In fact our ability to seek and do God's will is
hampered. You will also notice that this is the second place in
the Big Book where "the firing line" is mentioned. Go back to The
Doctor's Opinion, you'll see it there also (third paragraph on page
xxviii). "The firing line" is another way of saying we must remain
familiar with our alcoholism - "keep the memory green" so to speak.
If we aren't carrying this message we may forget where we came from.
We may even begin to think that we were just connoissuers of fine
wines and beers. If we stay on the firing line of life we will never
forget the type of drinkers we were.

"After all, our problems were of our own making. Bottles were only a
symbol. Besides, we have stopped fighting anybody or anything. We
have to!"

Alcoholism comes in people, not bottles and we have created most, if
not all, of our own problems. This is the second place where we have
stopped fighting - again, review pages 84 and 85.

With our next post we will go on to Chapter 8 - To Wives.

Have a great day!

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #33

Good morning everyone!

Most of the comments on this chapter were written by my friend and
co-moderator Karen-

"Chapter 8 - To Wives" begins on page 104. There are some historical
facts that are very interesting. First, a trivia question: Who wrote
this chapter? Most of us would immediately think Lois Wilson or Dr.
Bob's wife, Anne Smith, but that wouldn't be correct.

Originally, Bill wanted Anne to write it. She had no interest in
doing so. (Yeah, RIGHT! I can see, in my mind's eye, Lois jumping up
and down saying "I'll do it! I'll do it!" and Bill saying "I don't
think so!") Bill decided that he would write it himself. (No control
issues there!)

Of course Al-Anon was formed in the early 1950's and became a
society standing separate from AA. As an historical aside, it is
interesting to note that spouses were very much involved with the
alcoholic in the context of meetings at the very early beginnings of
AA. This makes this chapter congruous when it is viewed from this
historical perspective.

Since we play the role of the alcoholic, we must look at this
chapter from that viewpoint. Here, we can examine the truth about
how our active alcoholism affected our friends, our loved ones, our
employers, our neighbors – or, to quote page 104, "nearly everyone
bound by ties of blood or affection." This chapter helps us see
ourselves while we were drinking through the eyes of others. It's
not very comfortable.

While studying this chapter, we may experience profound realizations
about how destructive our alcoholic behavior truly was. It is not
unusual to spot more amends that are owed. The chapter drives home
the realities and consequences of living selfishly. If we didn't get
the message in Chapter 5 (pages 60 to 63), then we get a second
chance to take a look at what it all means in Chapter 8. No
other illness destroys relationships as does alcoholism. Pages 104
through the top of 108 describe those realities and consequences in
detail.

From the bottom of page 108 through the middle of page 110 Bill
describes the "four husbands" illustrating the progression of the
disease. Then, on pages 110 through 114, practical suggestions are
offered to help these husbands.

Starting at the bottom of Page 114, the focus switches. Suggestions
are offered to spouses regarding their own character defects. One
paragraph on page 116 really stands out for me:

"We have elsewhere remarked how much better life is when lived on a
spiritual plane. If God can solve the age-old riddle of alcoholism,
He can solve your problems, too. We wives found that, like everybody
else, we were afflicted with pride, self-pity, vanity and all the
things which go to make up the self-centered person; and we were not
above selfishness or dishonesty. As our husbands began to apply
spiritual principles in their lives, we began to see the
desirability of doing so, too."

The following paragraph is perhaps the most important in the chapter:

"We never, never try to arrange a man's life so as to shield him from
temptation. The slightest disposition on your part to guide his
appointments or his affairs so he will not be tempted will be
noticed. Make him feel absolutely free to come and go as he likes.
This is important. If he gets drunk, don't blame yourself. God has
either removed your husband's liquor problem or He has not. If not,
it had better be found out right away. Then you and your husband
can get right down to fundamentals. If a repetition is to be
prevented, place the problem, along with everything else, in God's
hands."

For all of those who claim that there is no timeframe for doing the
steps - here is an intersting snippet: "We do not like the thought
that the contents of a book or the work of another alcoholic has
accomplished in a few weeks that for which we struggled for years."
From Paragraph 4 on Page 118. So the program is designed to work in
a few weeks? Not a step a year or "a long slow recovery" - it does
underscore that this process is meant to happen in a matter of *weeks
and months* - not years!

This is from page 120, last paragraph. It mirrors paragraphs 1 and 2
on page 101. Remember what we have discussed throughout this study --
Bill will repeat important ideas in order to reinforce them to the
reader. This is yet another example of this style of writing.

The chapters We Agnostics, To Wives, and To Employers all have
something in common: you don't have to BE ONE to benefit from what
is written!

With our next post we will continue with Chapter 9 - The Family
Afterward.

Have a great day!

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #34

Good Morning all!

Today we will begin on page 122 - "The Family Afterward." The
dynamics of a family that has endured alcoholism are skewed to the
point where living together has become difficult, sometimes almost
impossible. Written many years before Alanon and Alateen were
formed, this and the preceding chapter attempt to steer us all--
alcoholic or not--down the spiritual path.

Paragraph 3 on page 122 is a theme that is oft repeated throughout
the book: "Cessation of drinking is but the first step away from a
highly strained, abnormal condition." AA isn't a "not drinking
club". Reading to page 127 the advice is offered to all--alcoholic
or not--that patient striving is required to become free of the past
and to grow into something better. Although we want results now, we
must realize that it will take time to recover on all different
levels.

On page 127, the first paragraph reminds us to be cautious about
focusing on a single aspect of our recovery. "The head of the house
ought to remember that he is mainly to blame for what befell his
home. He can scarcely square the account in his lifetime. But he
must see the danger of over-concentration on financial success.
Although financial recovery is on the way for many of us, we found we
could not place money first. For us, material well-being always
followed spiritual progress; it never preceded." If we concentrate
on our spiritual condition we will mend financially.

The following paragraph directs us to make our efforts under our own
roofs. "Since the home has suffered more than anything else, it is
well that a man exert himself there. He is not likely to get far in
any direction if he fails to show unselfishness and love under his
own roof. We know there are difficult wives and families, but the
man who is getting over alcoholism must remember he did much to make
them so."

The underlying message here is about balance. An overemphasis on any
single area creates imbalance. Those areas that are neglected
suffer. Balance is something to be sought after. Over-concentration
on finances, spirituality, meeting attendance, relationships, etc.,
at the expense of those other things that comprise this life will
lead us to more difficulty. Remembering that life is lived outside
of the rooms of AA is important.

With our next post we will start on page 128. The discussion will
start with how the family reacts to a "stirring spiritual
experience."

Thanks for participating!

Jim - The Into Action Group of Manhattan

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #35

Good Morning everyone!

We're at page 128 of Chapter 9 - "The Family Afterward." The reading
from here through the bottom of page 130 centers on, for lack of a
better term, spiritual infancy. It's that period of time that many
of us experience where we believe that we have found an oasis in the
desert of an alcoholic life. It's roots may be in the spiritual
experience, or simple and overwhelming gratitude. What this reading
reveals is that, no matter what the circumstance, imbalance in life
is not sustainable. Although the pendulum has swung from active
alcoholism to over-zealousness in the spiritual realm what will
happen, given time, is that we will become centered. Here our
families are asked to allow us that period of time to become
centered, to put our AA service work and spiritual lives into proper
perspective with all of the other segments of our lives: work,
family, home, service, etc. Step 10 is the primary tool to
accomplish this desired result.

Beginning at the bottom of page 130 and reading through to the top
of page 133 the text discusses family life, taking inventory within
our families and developing a new attitude toward the alcoholic
member. This is rooted in our new attitude as recovered alcoholics.
Paragraph 2 on page 132: "Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we
burst into merriment over seemingly tragic experience out of the
past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been
given the power to help others." Continuing on to the following
paragraph - "So let each family play together or separately, as much
as their circumstances warrant. We are sure God wants us to be
Happy, Joyous, and Free." Sounds like we get a glimpse of what God's
will is for us. If we are careful when reading the Big Book we will
find that much of God's will is revealed to us. It may be general in
nature but it is there. If we're not "Happy, Joyous, and Free" we
may be missing something in our spiritual lives.

The remainder of this chapter deals with the relationship of the
alcoholic to his family, his health and sex relations. It tells us
not to be shy about consulting physicians for they are here to help.
On page 135 there is a telling sentence - paragraph 1: "Seeing is
believing to most families who have lived with a drinker." Our
actions are far more revealing than our words, especially at home.

And, of course, the first three slogans:

First Things First
Live and Let Live
Easy Does It

Have a great day everyone!

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #36

Good Mornin' all!

Chapter 10 - To Employers begins on page 136. This chapter was
written by Hank Parkhurst. Hank was one of the early New York
members and a business partner of Bill's - they were in the business
of forming a service station buying cooperative and selling auto
parts through the Honest Dealers Association. Hank was also an
officer in "Works Publishing," the entity formed to publish the Big
Book. In April of 1940 Hank got drunk which was to be a source of
great difficulty since he controlled a significant amount of stock
in Works Publishing.

The reading from pages 136 to 140 centers on the loss of capable
employees. The point is also made that it can be difficult to make
employers understand the nature of the malady. Page 138 at the end
of paragraph 2: "The only answer I could make was that if the man
followed the usual pattern, he would go on a bigger bust than ever.
I felt this was inevitable and wondered if the bank was doing the
man an injustice. Why not bring him into contact with some of our
alcoholic crowd? He might have a chance. I pointed out that I had
had nothing to drink whatever for three years, and this in the face
of difficulties that would have made nine out of ten men drink their
heads off. Why not at least afford him an opportunity to hear my
story? 'Oh no,' said my friend, 'this chap is either through with
liquor, or he is minus a job. If he has your willpower and guts, he
will make the grade'." At the top of page 139 that individual got
drunk again.

At the end of page 139 the employers are instructed to look within
their own organizations and to try to identify those employees who
are alcoholic. The point is made that there are many talented and
worthwhile employees who can be helped and can return to usefulness
if they are given a chance to recover. A generalized approach with
an employee is discussed through page 145.

We'll return to this chapter with our next post, and begin at the
last paragraph on page 145.

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #37

Good Morning!

We are beginning at the bottom of page 145. Reading through to page
148, there are many ideas that have been adopted by industry in
general that are beneficial to helping alcoholics in the workplace.

Paragraph 2 on page 148:

"It boils down to this: No man should be fired just because he is an
alcoholic. If he wants to stop he should be afforded a real chance."

In evidence today are the multitude of EAP programs that direct
alcoholics to recovery.

Read to the bottom of page 149 - last paragraph:

"Today I own a little company (The Honest Dealers Association).
There are two employees (Jimmy B and Bill) who produce as much as
five normal salesmen. But why not? They have a new attitude, and they
have been saved from a living death. I have enjoyed every moment
spent in getting them straightened out."

That was the little automobile parts business that Hank ran and that
Bill and Jimmy B. worked at. I don't suppose there was any
exaggeration there? <wink>

The last chapter before going on to Dr. Bob's story and returning to
the beginning of the book is Chapter 11 - "A Vision For You" on page
151. We'll begin there with our next post.

Have a great day!

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #38

Good Morning!

Chapter 11 - "A Vision for You" begins on page 151.

If you have been following along with the study from the beginning,
you have learned much about Bill Wilson's writing style. I'll
recount what we've learned for those who have recently joined us.

There are several aspects of Bill's writing style which are pretty
consistent throughout the book. First, Bill will make the same point
in several different ways. Second, he tries not to repeat the same
words over and over. Third, he sums up at the end of each chapter.

It is the third point that is pertinent for our discussion of
Chapter 11. This is the final chapter in the main text of the book.
We will see how he will "sum up" or recap what has been covered
earlier.

The first three pages cover the introduction and the earlier parts
of the book, disclosing to the reader what he may find. At the
bottom of page 153 and through page 164, Bill recounts the
beginnings of AA and gives a very general outline of AA's brief
history. Bill doesn't identify the places or people who were
instrumental in the beginning, although all of the essentials are
there: Towns Hospital, Dr. Silkworth, The Mayflower Hotel, Akron
Ohio, Dr. Bob, Bill Dotson (AA #3), Cleveland, New York, etc.

With our next post we will look at some of the high points of the
history and look closely at page 164. Then we'll finish up with Dr.
Bob's Nightmare.

Have a great day!

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #39

Good morning all!

There are a great many places that have marked AA's early history.
The Mayflower Hotel in Ohio is one. Towns Hospital - 293 Central
Park West at 89th Street in Manhattan is another. (Coincidentally I
used to live half a block down 89th Street from there). Stepping
Stones was the home in Bedford Hills, NY in Westchester County, just
north of New York City, where Bill and Lois lived. They moved there
in 1941. I was fortunate enough to meet Lois there in 1980. She
passed on in 1988. Stepping Stones has a website at
www.Steppingstones.org or make an appointment to see it with the
director of the place. Another place is Bill's birthplace in East
Dorset, VT. The Wilson House ~ www.wilsonhouse.org ~ has been fully
restored and a former pigeon of mine, Dean M., can give you a
detailed history of the place. Dean has been doing service as the
assistant manager of the place since 1995. Rooms are available to
stay in for a reasonable cost. Dinners are served family style and
the food is great!

Bill and Lois are buried nearby. One of the most moving experiences
is to go to Bill and Lois' grave and read the touching notes and see
the pictures of children left there by those expressing undying
gratitude to Bill's work.

Page 164 - Paragraph 2 is a place where people will lift something
out of context in an attempt to prove a spurious point. "Our book is
meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little." Some
people seize upon this to mean that the instructions outlined in the
book are optional. (I wrote an article on this topic which was
published in the April 2002 edition of The Grapevine
entitled "Spiritual Kindergarten" by Jim K. of Manhattan - a copy of
it is located in the "Files" section at the study home page). What
the first 100 knew only a little about was the spiritual experience.
They had the answer to recovering from alcoholism. Keep in mind that
Bill was sober only four years at the time the book was written. The
word "suggestive," in this context, means "a starting point," or "a
beginning." It means "an introduction to spiritual principles." AA
is but a means to the end of living a spiritual life. Our lives
aren't meant to be lived in AA but outside of it.

"The answers will come if your own house is in order. But obviously
you cannot transmit what you haven't got." The "2 step" trap -- to
carry the message effectively you need to have a message to transmit.

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God (Steps 1, 2 and 3).
Admit your faults to Him and your fellows (Steps 4, 5, 6, and 7).
Clear away the wreckage of the past (Steps 8 and 9). Give freely of
what you find and join us (Steps 10, 11, and 12). We shall be with
you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, (The Fellowship of God) and you
will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.
May God bless you and keep you until then." In his classic style,
Bill sums up at the end.

With our next post, we will wrap up our study cycle with Dr. Bob's
Story.

Then we will post the Study outline/instructions.

On Thursday we will begin a new study cycle.

Jim

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #40

Good Morning, everyone!

Dr. Bob's Nightmare is the first of the personal stories on page 171.

Page 165 is interesting however. This is the Section heading "Personal Stories -
How Forty-Three Alcoholics Recovered
From Their Malady" (Emphasis is mine). Not a typo.

Page 172 - Paragraph 1 - Bob attributes "selfishness" as playing an
important part in "bringing on my alcoholism". In the next paragraph
we can see his antipathy towards the church. Reading through page
173, we see that he is in trouble early on with drinking. Change of
scenery didn't help. At the bottom of page 174, he began to go to
sanitariums voluntarily to dry out. This was before Prohibition
(1920), and he still had many more years of drinking ahead of him.

On pages 176 and 177, his drinking was out of control and all of the
classic symptoms were there: hiding bottles, others recognizing his
drinking as a problem, hoarding alcohol, social life deteriorating,
switching drinks (the Beer Experiment), etc. On page 178, he falls
in with "...a crowd of people who attracted me because of their
seeming poise, health and happiness." (About 1933) That crowd was
The Oxford Group, although Dr. Bob had not connected this group of
people with any solution of his drinking problem. He drank and spent
time with the Oxford Groups for the next two and a half years.

In paragraph 1, the lady who called Bob was Henrietta Sieberling (of
the rubber tire manufacturing empire) and the friend was Bill
Wilson. The first meeting between Bill and Bob was about 6 hours
longer than the fifteen minutes Bob was initially willing to give to
Bill.

Bob did get drunk again 3 weeks later at the AMA convention. Bill
worked with him again and the founding of our society dates from
June 10, 1935* the date of Dr. Bob's last drink.

The end of paragraph two says alot of the power of one alcoholic
talking with another - "Of far more importance was the fact that he
was the first living human with whom I had ever talked, who knew
what he was talking about in regard to alcoholism from actual
experience. In other words, be talked my language. He knew all the
answers, and certainly not because he had picked them up in his
reading." The barrier had been breached!

"Passing it on" was important to Bob - the last paragraph on page
180 and continuing on to the top of the following page. "I spend a
great deal of time passing on what I learned to others who want and
need it badly. I do it for four reasons:

1. Sense of duty.
2. It is a pleasure.
3. Because in so doing I am paying my debt to the man who took time
to pass it on to me.
4. Because every time I do it I take out a little more insurance for
myself against a possible slip."

The ending of his story boils down to the essence of how important
an open mind is in order to accept what we have to offer. The
assumption is that the motivation to seek sobriety is in place, that
we are ready to listen to conviction as only the dying can be:

"If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have
any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting
what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you
are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair. But
if you really and truly want to quit drinking liquor for good and
all, and sincerely feel that you must have some help, we know that
we have an answer for you. It never fails if you go about it with one
half the zeal you have been in the habit of showing when getting
another drink.

"Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!"

* - An interesting historical note: Because the AMA Convention in
Atlantic City began on June 10, 1935 there is the real possibility,
according to some researchers, that Dr. Bob got sober on June 17,
1935. Not that it really matters all that much...

We'll begin again with the guidelines and follow with the first post
of the new cycle with our next post.

Thanks to everyone who has participated in this cycle. Pass on the
link to this group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/bigbookmeeting/info

so that your other friends may share in what you have found.

Jim