Friday, Dec. 13, 2019
“In our belief, any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself, he may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods. These attempts to do the impossible have always failed.” – Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 7 (“Working With Others”), p 101.
Today, recognize that we cannot shield ourselves from places or people that could trigger temptation. Doing that is living in the problem of alcoholism and not in the solution of sobriety. I may well be required to attend gatherings where alcohol is served, or I may be in a relationship where my spouse or companion continues to drink. Shielding myself from any source of alcohol will undoubtedly limit my ability to carry out the suggestion of the 12th Step – to work with others who are still drinking and want recovery. While I certainly don’t want to risk temptation by returning to my past watering holes for a cup of coffee, I cannot reasonably expect myself never to be in a situation where alcohol is served. In those instances, then, I have the Program to get through any temptation. It is up to me to invoke and put the Steps to work. I am an alcoholic, but I am a recovering one. I have the choice to live with the problem of fighting temptation or with the solution of recovery. Today, I pick the latter. And our common journey continues. Step by step. – Chris M., 2019
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