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Big Book Study - Post #35

Good Morning everyone!

We're at page 128 of Chapter 9 - "The Family Afterward." The reading
from here through the bottom of page 130 centers on, for lack of a
better term, spiritual infancy. It's that period of time that many
of us experience where we believe that we have found an oasis in the
desert of an alcoholic life. It's roots may be in the spiritual
experience, or simple and overwhelming gratitude. What this reading
reveals is that, no matter what the circumstance, imbalance in life
is not sustainable. Although the pendulum has swung from active
alcoholism to over-zealousness in the spiritual realm what will
happen, given time, is that we will become centered. Here our
families are asked to allow us that period of time to become
centered, to put our AA service work and spiritual lives into proper
perspective with all of the other segments of our lives: work,
family, home, service, etc. Step 10 is the primary tool to
accomplish this desired result.

Beginning at the bottom of page 130 and reading through to the top
of page 133 the text discusses family life, taking inventory within
our families and developing a new attitude toward the alcoholic
member. This is rooted in our new attitude as recovered alcoholics.
Paragraph 2 on page 132: "Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we
burst into merriment over seemingly tragic experience out of the
past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been
given the power to help others." Continuing on to the following
paragraph - "So let each family play together or separately, as much
as their circumstances warrant. We are sure God wants us to be
Happy, Joyous, and Free." Sounds like we get a glimpse of what God's
will is for us. If we are careful when reading the Big Book we will
find that much of God's will is revealed to us. It may be general in
nature but it is there. If we're not "Happy, Joyous, and Free" we
may be missing something in our spiritual lives.

The remainder of this chapter deals with the relationship of the
alcoholic to his family, his health and sex relations. It tells us
not to be shy about consulting physicians for they are here to help.
On page 135 there is a telling sentence - paragraph 1: "Seeing is
believing to most families who have lived with a drinker." Our
actions are far more revealing than our words, especially at home.

And, of course, the first three slogans:

First Things First
Live and Let Live
Easy Does It

Have a great day everyone!

Jim