Weekly Update

Don’t forget this coming meeting is our annual BBQ celebrating our 13th anniversary. 
6:30 PM - BBQ Served
7:30 - Speakers Danny B - Houston, Cat W - Austin



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April 30, 2019

There is a Solution (pgs 17-18)

We, of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill. Nearly all have recovered. They have solved the drink problem.

We are average Americans. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and religious backgrounds. We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful. We are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck when camaraderie, joyousness and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to Captain's table. Unlike the feelings of the ship's passengers, however, our joy in escape from disaster does not subside as we go our individual ways. 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.

An illness of this sort - and we have come to believe it an illness - involves those about us in a way no other human sickness can. If a person has cancer all are sorry for him and no one is angry or hurt. But not so with the alcoholic illness, for with it there goes annihilation of all the things worth while in life. It engulfs all whose lives touch the sufferer's. It brings misunderstanding, fierce resentment, financial insecurity, disgusted friends and employers, warped lives of blameless children, sad wives and parents - anyone can increase the list.

Some Thoughts on what we read:

This past week we starting reading the chapter “There is a Solution.”  The reading opens with “We, of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill. Nearly all have recovered. They have solved the drink problem.” This statement has been changed since the first printing of this book. Hundreds was updated to say thousands  To get an idea of how our fellowship is grown you need only read the Forwards in the front of your Big Book. We know of the hopelessness of Bill’s condition from reading his story in the previous pages and how he was able to recover of seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. The description of the drink problem can be found in the Doctor’s Opinion.

We are average Americans. Alcoholics Anonymous can now be found in approximately 180 nations worldwide, with membership estimated at over two million. Tradition three states - “Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.” The point being that even though the members  in our program can be found from all walks of life we all suffer from a the same problem.

Although we share a common problem, that, in itself, would not have produced what we have in our fellowship. The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. The message this book carries is a clear definition of what our problem and a common solution with clear-cut directions for our program of action.

Alcoholism is an awful illness. It is most misunderstood and hard for some to have compassion for. The reason being that all around the alcoholic suffer the consequences of the alcoholics actions. It is so important for the alcoholic reading it understands that their drinking didn’t just affect themselves. It is also important for others to understand and to learn so they may also help others.  



Definitions:

Average - ordinary rank or degree.

Peril - exposure to injury: danger; jeopardy; risk

Steerage - that part of the ship allotted to passengers paying the lowest fares and receiving inferior treatment on the voyage than others.

Illness - the condition of be ill; disease; sickness

Annihilation - the act of of annihilating; non-existence