210 Out of Bondage Sample

At step three, we offer ourselves to our higher power to be relieved of our self-centeredness and difficulties. We commit to practicing humility, knowing it is necessary for our recovery. Our faith must be accompanied by self-sacrifice and constructive action. Even if someone has more religious knowledge, they may still need our help. Dr. Bob didn't need spiritual instruction, but he needed understanding from a fellow alcoholic. I needed self-forgiveness and connection with someone who understood me. 210 out of bondage at step three many of us said to our maker as we understood him god i offer myself to thee to build with me and to do with me as thou wilt relieve me of my bondage of self that i may better do thy will take away my difficulties that transcendence over them may bear witness to those i would help of thy power thy love in thy way of life may i do thy will always we thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready then we could commit to abandon ourselves utterly to him alcohol's anonymous page 63 211 reaching for humility we saw we needed we saw we needn't always be bludgeoned and beaten into humility it could come quite as much from our voluntary reaching for it as it could from unremitting suffering we first reach for a little humility knowing that we shall perish of alcoholism if we do not after a time though we may still rebel somewhat we commit to practice humility because this is the right thing to do then comes the day when finally freed in large degree from rebellion we practice humility because we deeply want it as a way of life 112 and 12 page 75 two letter 1966 212 faith in action your prospects religious education and training may be far superior to yours in that case he is going to wonder how you can add anything to what he already knows but he will be curious to learn why his own convictions have not worked and why yours seems to work so well he may be an example of the truth that faith alone is insufficient to be vital faith must be accompanied by self-sacrifice and unselfish constructive action admit that he probably knows more about religion than you do but remind him that however deep his faith and knowledge these qualities could not have served him well or he would not be asking your help dr bob did not need me for his spiritual instruction he had already had more of that than i what he did need when we first met was the deflection at depth and the understanding that only one drunk can give to another what i needed was the humility of self-forgiveness and the kinship with another human being of my own kind