July 15, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Saturday, July 15, 2023

" ...(T)he actual or potential alcoholic, with hardly an exception, will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge. This is a point we wish to emphasize and re-emphasize, to smash home upon our alcoholic readers as it has been revealed to us out of bitter experience." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 3 ("More About Alcoholism"), p 39.

Today, the experience -- "unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge" -- serves as an omen that I cannot continue to drink even though I may still have some ability to abstain for even long periods of time. But eventually that ability to abstain will be gone. Noting that the text of the Program speaks not only to the alcoholic but also to the potential one, I must give up any egotistical thoughts that I am the exception to it. "Self-knowledge" did little to spare me the ravages of full alcoholism. Today, pray that I listen to the experience of others. And our common journey continues. Step by step. -- Chris M., 2023