Table of ContentsApril Articles OnlineAbout Grapevine |
Vol. 65 No. 11
Editor's NoteDear Readers, AA's cofounders knew from the beginning how difficult it could be for drunks to accept the spiritual premise of the program. "To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face," the Big Book says. "To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems impossible." Cracking that sense of impossibility takes a leap of faith that, for many of us, begins with trusting the experience of others. Hearing stories of others' release from alcoholism, we begin to believe that we too might recover. Seeing AAs find serenity in a power that they really do choose for themselves, we begin to trust that even those of us who don't rely on religion or invisible forces can stay sober practicing the spiritual principles of AA. This is the kind of experience that the authors of the stories in this month's special section offer. Some, like the author of "Finding my Way," a lifelong skeptic, turn to an eclectic mix of nature, the St. Francis Prayer and Buddhism to quiet the anger and anxiety that can lead to relapse. Others, like the author of "Getting Spiritual in Spite of Myself," discover that spirituality begins, as he puts it, when he moves "from a selfish approach to life to trying to contribute to the lives around me." For the author of "A God of my Understanding," it's a matter of maintaining a clear distinction between religion and spirituality and asking others to do the same: "When I go to an AA meeting or event, I want to hear how God (not someone's religion) helps keep him or her sober. I want to know what tools others use in their spirituality to grow and live a more serene existence." I trust you will find similar tools in this issue. — In fellowship, |
