What is Our Common Solution?

The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement which binds us. But that in itself would never have held us together as we are now joined.

The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism.”

~ Alcoholics Anonymous, “The Big Book”, page 17

Our common solution, refers to us as alcoholics and addicts, whether we used alcohol, heroin, cocaine, meth, pot or pills, etc. I believe in identification in order to connect the common problem. However, even though our illness may present itself differently mentally and/or physically, we all suffer from the same spiritual malady.

According to the Big Book, “when the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” That is, in fact, “our common solution.” As important and perhaps vital as it is to completely identify and relate personal experiences to same substances -- as stated on page 18 in the Big Book: “That the man who is making the approach has had the same difficulty, that he obviously knows what he is talking about…” -- my own personal experience and belief is that the solution, our common solution, truly is the same.

We treat the spiritual malady and get connected to a Power greater than ourselves and the mental obsession gets removed. Consequently, if we don’t put the chemical in, no matter what its shape or form, we do not have the physical allergic reaction.

Once we have reached a level of identification and conceded to our innermost selves that we have lost power, choice and control over a particular substance(s), and that we will always go back to it if our spiritual malady is not treated, then our recovery process becomes a journey beyond self. From selfishness, self-centeredness, and living in spiritual sickness, we become useful to God and our fellows, safe and protected, living in the world of the Spirit. As long as we continue to grow in understanding and effectiveness and pass on our experience to others, we find that we are all on the same journey – the spiritual life.

That is our common solution.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Darkest Days now Shining Bright

                                                      
 In my darkest days of addiction hope had become. a mirage in a desert of despair. Like everything else that had ever meant anything to me. I held on to one thing that never left me. The 2 little girls that only wanted a father present in their life. Through all the homeless, surviving barely, walking side by side with death every day hoping he would take me, the thought of them never completely went away. I knew they really had no father as it was, but held the tiniest hope that maybe one day they would. Every day I woke up wherever I was, I wished I wasn’t. Never really knowing would this ever end ? Could this ever end ? Does anyone really choose this way? would anyone really choose this way ? The beginning never looked like the end. The end never looked like the beginning. Both were true! Where was God? How do you surrender? Why can’t someone save me ? 
              When did God come to me ? When did I come to God ? Where was God the whole time ? I looked everywhere but inside. But I guess at least I was searching. So it must have been “in the last analysis”….  The gift of desperation was received. How could you tell ? When I put my whole recovery first and everything - everything, else after, something happened.. I made commitments to my  recovery come before work, relationships, family, fun , everything, just so I could breath and not have to have chemicals to exist. None of this was easy but neither was the life before. What is freedom worth?
         My hope today lies deep inside and shines so bright that it illuminates out from me so others can see and receive hope. Those 2 little girls have become beautiful women and have families of their own. They now have a father present in their life that is always a phone call away and completely present when we talk. The pain of the past may not be gone but the joy of the present is the more obvious focus these days. Amends to them consisted of focusing on my recovery first and foremost so that I could become a father, then being present in their lives and letting them in on my life of recovery. As I become more God conscious through growing spiritually and continue to make myself available to those in need, life grows all around me. My passion burns to stay on the firing line so that those hopeless addicts and alcoholics have somewhere to turn to find hope. Now waking up is full of light regardless of the circumstances. Love and light and awareness..
 Shining bright !
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