It's common to hear AA attendees say things like, "My higher power is a chair...my higher power is the group... is a light bulb...." If your AA group is phobic of God, read this.
-- Ed
Possibly the most empowering concept within the Twelve Steps is the overarching presence of the higher power concept. The first two Steps read "We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable…came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
Somehow this Power is capable of bringing sanity in the midst of insanity and strength in the midst of weakness. When you bring up "higher power", you'll hear a catalog of definitions that include a rock, a tree, nature, stars, a group, a spirit, a sponsor, a song and even a light bulb! So, what was the "higher power" originally intended to define?
Clarence H. Snyder-"The Home Brewmeister"-had his last drink in 1938 and remained sober until 1984. Clarence started AA group #3 in Cleveland in 1939. He wrote:
"In their sincere and honest attempt to maintain a 'hands-off' policy regarding fellow members' religious beliefs and perhaps sensitivities, our founding fathers exercised gentle wisdom and proffered spiritual freedom. No one, it was rightly thought, should be permitted to impose his or her own religious concepts and beliefs upon any other member of the fellowship. This area was much too important to the prospective recoveree to be tampered with by mortal man. The very life of the prospect depends, ultimately, upon his or her "personal relationship" with a 'Power greater than themselves.' The notion was valid in the Program's earlier days - AND IT STILL IS!
In no way, shape or form, however, was the idea conceived to avoid guiding our beloved newcomer along the path of spiritual progress. Quite the contrary, our whole purpose as recovered alcoholics, was and is to help the next person achieve sobriety. If that person is a real alcoholic his only hope is God. So in its most basic and simplest terms our only real purpose is to help the still-suffering alcoholic to find God. A loving God, a healing God is the alcoholic's only real hope…. The newcomer is expected to arrive, alone and unguided, at a relationship with his Creator.
One of the most powerful and hope-filled statements to be found in the entire text of Alcoholics Anonymous can be found on page 25. 'The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way that is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do for ourselves.'
In his liquor befogged mind he does not seek and experience God but begins to "create" one. It's no wonder his dryness becomes so barren that in a short while he returns to drink. His "Higher Power" was a light bulb! (No joke. We have heard this comment voiced more than once and not only by a newcomer!) Or perhaps this power greater than himself was a chair, or a wall, or even a mere mortal sponsor. A quick glance at the top of page 93 of the "Big Book" makes instantly clear a very important qualification in the concept of "...as you understand Him," and that is: "He can choose any conception he likes, provided it makes sense to him.
Power greater than himself - a light bulb? A simple flick of a switch turns off that power. A wall? Not so powerful when confronted with a bulldozer. A chair? An axe can make quick kindling of that higher power. A sponsor then? If he fails to perfect his spiritual life, his old foe alcohol is sure to reclaim him. So he won't do very well as a greater power. How about a whole group? Possibly for someone else, but not for us. If one person is powerless over alcohol, and another, we would have a group of people who are powerless over alcohol. We do not have a group who ARE POWERFUL over alcohol. Yet they do not drink! They have gained access to something more powerful than alcohol."
The incredible success of the program over the years comes from the fact that most in recovery have found a power "greater than themselves"-other than a light bulb that can switched on and off by the flick of a finger. I want to suggest for your consideration a way of finding a "higher power" that is more than adequate to restore your life to sanity….
Check out the first three steps of the Twelve Steps and see for yourself…
- We admitted that we were powerless over our problem-that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care and direction of God….
In a lot of ways I feel like the Toyota commercial that says, "If you can find a better car than Toyota, buy it!" So I say, "If you can find a better base than I've found, go get it!" I believe accepting Jesus as your Higher Power is as simple as this little exchange… Jesus, I have a problem. It's me! My child, I have the solution. It's me!
ANYONE ANONYMOUS by Tim Timmons: tomt@tryroni.com Recovery Options Network, Inc.