Fred's Drastic Discovery

I would have to throw several lifelong conceptions
out of the window. That was not easy. ~ Fred 

A Quick, Strong Remedy

Page: 42

Chapter: More About Alcoholism

Step we are on: Step One

Subject: Mental Condition, Fred the Accountant, Insanity, Two Fold illness, Nervous, Pre-lapse, Relapse, Normal vs. Abnormal

Good morning. Fred is telling us how he finally “came to believe” and subsequently made a decision to go forward with the program. It sounds like a Step Three experience, doesn’t it? 

• Did he have difficulty accepting the concept of the program?

Though I had been only a nominal churchman, their proposals were not, intellectually, hard to swallow.

• How did he feel about putting the concepts into action?

But the program of action, though entirely sensible, was pretty drastic.

These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the
moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric.~ Bill W

 Drastic?

Drastic - Acting strongly and quickly, as a remedy. ~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary – 1938

• What would he have to do?

It meant I would have to throw several lifelong conceptions out of the window.

 Fred doesn't tell us here what specifically those conceptions were. Most of us give up things like "praying" for outcomes or illusions of self-empowerment anything that is antagonistic to the Judeo-Christian spiritual principles presented in this book.  For all we know Fred had to give up voodoo, humanist or modern psychological ideas. We all have some prejudices that need to be discarded before this God idea is going to work.

• Was it going to be easy?

That was not easy.

•  What happened to Fred as soon as he made up his mind to adopt the program? 

But the moment I made up my mind to go through with the process, I had the curious feeling that my alcoholic condition was relieved, as in fact it proved to be.

When was Fred’s obsession removed? Was it after 90 meetings 90 days? Was it after his fifth step? Had he even begun ‘the steps’ yet?  

I would have the elements of a way of
living which answered all my problems. ~ Bill W

Believe it or not, much like the minister's son on page 56 (coming up in a few weeks in this review), he was ‘converted’ and his obsession to drink was removed upon a Step Three experience – the very night he was approached by a man with all the answers – another recovered alcoholic from AA . 

He came to believe making his beginning, then deciding to go through with the drastic proposals given him.

Here the mere decision to adopt the program of action was powerful enough to heal. Amazing. Just like Bill W. in the Mayflower Hotel Lobby.

All he had to do was make that decision to proceed with the program.  He did not need a sponsor's coaxing. No inventory yet. No spiritual retreats or Big Book preaching. No counseling. No bubble baths or structured living and accountability. He needed to decide in God’s favor.

• What else, of a very important nature, did he discover?     

  "Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems.

WOW. All his problems. And I thought this Twelve Step deal was only about alcoholism. 

Has your spiritual experience in AA solved all of your problems?  If not . . . . then why not? Have you really even had it then?

Peace and  Love,

Danny S – RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

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