"The 12 Step Program" The Great Marvel

The greatest attributes of "The 12 Step Program" and what makes it the greatest contribution to the world in the 20th and now the 21rst century- are many fold.
To begin with here is a "Program of Recovery" That has literally saved millions of lives and improved or touched in a positive way millions of others. Created by two (2) "selfish" , "worthless" condemned and "written off" by society, the professionals of the time, and except for a very precious few (counted on one hand) considered a detriment to society and better off institutionalized and forgotten. From the prayers of their respective loved ones and a couple of caring members of the clergy. These two men created the 12 step program and the fellowship of A.A.. The fellowship of A.A. which has spawned more than 300 different fellowships. Fellowships which has in turned has positively affected millions.

One of the most distinctive aspect of this Program of Recovery and the Fellowship which surrounds it- Is as reminded this morning by the reading in "Daily Reflections"
"The only Requirement for Membership is a desire to Stop Drinking" which most of the other Fellowships Incorporated. Stop - whatever the fellowship. NO DUES to pay- No educational requirements, No political ties required, No family ties needed, Did not have to "know" the right person or be born to the Right family, No need to be financial success, No religious affiliation needed, No educational requirement, No Dues or Fees to join. Only to be in need. This in itself made it the marvel it is. Without this Many of us millions would be in Jails , institutions , Dead or still suffering miserably. And this most remarkable TRADITION- made it possible for Millions upon Millions direct access to " The 12 Step Program" Which in turn as mentioned before virtually saved the lives of millions and touched the lives of countless millions in a positive way.

The other distinct and marvel about this "Program of Recovery" Which makes it stand alone from most other "Models Of Recovery" is as slightly mentioned above. However I believe it needs to be re-iterated. Is the cost ( NO DUES or FEES) most of the other (less successful) " Models of Recovery" Is in one form or another you have to PAY someone. As the "12 Step- Program of Recovery" is virtually found anywhere and available in over three hundred forms and Many different languages . So virtually available for FREE for the basically the entire World.

The other and perhaps biggest attribute about the "12 Step Program of Recovery" Is that if one just follows the guidelines PRECISELY- IT WORKS. As millions can attest.

Step One

Step One;
Admitted we were powerless over Alcohol ( our Addiction)
That our lives had become unmanageable.

What an profound statement this is for us to actually say. the real profound part is meaning it and believing what we are saying/writing, rather than just mouthing the words. As an alcoholic/addict his made all the difference in the world. Even though my life was in the toilet, had burned so many bridges, hurt so many people, had done so many things that I'd said I'd never do, hurt the ones I'd claimed to love and broken so many promises. The idea that I was powerless was so distasteful, I mean it was just a drink or a substance, POWERLESS - I don't think so. I mean I walked around in black leather- people had feared me - I'd carried guns, knives- powerless i was not powerless over anything ( or so I thought) I was only powerless when you had a gun to my head or bracelets on my wrists. But once those bracelets were off or the gun was removed my power returned. (ha). That was the delusion.
This is where I talked among my support system, my sponsor and listened to others at meetings-This is where the learning began- I began to see all the promises I broke, you know the ones that i meant to keep the ones I really wanted to keep the ones to the people that meant something to me. The times where I said I was only going for a couple, where i said I'd be right back and we do this or that- the times I said no one would get hurt- the times I said we'd get this or that. I I were really not powerless then how come all those times when I MEANT it I could never follow through- I always stayed with the "party". The "party" was everything. Let's face it once I took the first Drink-Hit, Toke and started in- I couldn't tell you were I would end up.
The "partying" brought me to so many lovely places- Waking up with who knows who- waking up who knows where- jails- Hospitals - broke- more broken promises. Let's not even mention the times where i felt degraded-ashamed-lost- confused- hopeless- because don't you know " I'm not powerless" and that's not unmanageable - I always managed to get " a place to crash- I always managed to find another relationship- i always managed to find another buck-job- whatever. I always managed to get another-drink-hit-high- so I didn't have to face life the pain of all my failures of the loved ones I'd lost, of the what I'd become and was doing. Because it was just a shitty world and the cops are against me and setting me up and the mother-in-law is always putting these things in her head- and the boss just doesn't like me. The truth is I'm powerless and I once I start using/drinking anything goes- most of those things are the things I want in my life, however being powerless I follow the using/drinking and then this becomes my life.

However there is away out and a way to get back to a better life and step one is the beginning of that process. This is not all bleak, and doom and gloom IT is just the opposite- it's the bright light of hope of a new life filled with unimaginable promise. However it is like any "Treasure" hunt. YES i Use the word Treasure Because like I said earlier the results of this 12 Step Program are just that. If you made a wish list of what you'd like to get out of this Program right now- You would rip yourself off of what your going to achieve. However like I started to say on any Treasure hunt there are perils and it is not an easy journey, That's why help is available and we need to use it. The Treasures to be had are wondrous. YOU WILL BE AMAZED.
Remember GOD does not make garbage

"Step 1 of AA" by Father Joseph C. Martin