Thursday Morning Big Book Step Study

Thursday Morning Big Book Step Study


Recording for March 6, 2014

March 06, 2014

(week 114) 6th March 2014  12-step Study Big Book Workshop
 
 
Stephanie’s Wisdom:
Dr. Bob & The Good Old Timers
A.A. 12 & 12
Daily Reflections
are diamonds alongside the Big Book.

Announcements:
• New Al-Anon- focused study-buddy (S/B) group starting today Mar. 6, ’14 at 9:30a EST
where share answers to last week’s
Soul Work orally.
712/ 432-0800   pin 587213#

•Continuing open buddy group meets Sundays 11a-12n EST at same # and pin as above.

•Another study buddy group opening Mar. 15, ’14/ Sat. / 12n (?) EST on Trust & Rely Workshops
at same # & pin as above.

Protocol for studybuddy Groups:
1) Open with 3rd step prayer
    Close with Serenity prayer

2) Read 1 question at a time.
Then each one participating shares on that question, with facilitator calling on each participant in turn and with No comments by others; only a ‘Thank you for sharing’ by facilitator.

3) The group meeting does not close until there is a definite facilitator for the upcoming week.
The facilitator should rotate each week so as to foster a feeling of commitment (on the part of each participant) to Showing Up and carrying the responsibility of the group’s continued existence.
In open study buddy groups, everyone  is  welcome, but you must introduce yourself, not just hang-on listening. And if you did not do the writing, just say so and then say: ‘I will just be listening (this week).’

Stephanie is all for open study buddy groups, not for closed- because that’s what invites and fosters growth into intimate ( in-to-me see)
community.

If you do not conduct your group the above way, then just do not attach Stephanie’s name to it because Stephanie knows, in her wisdom, that people so feel safe and recover when done this way.

 
 
 
AA 12 x 12 Step 2  page 32 paragraph starting: ‘To clergymen, doctors, friends, and families, the alcoholic who means well and tries hard is a heartbreaking riddle…’ until end of the paragraph: ‘…and so incapable of receiving enough grace to restore us to sanity.’
 
Soul work
look up: emotionalism.
 
To clergymen, doctors, friends, and families, the alcoholic who means well and tries hard is a heartbreaking riddle. To most AA’s, he is not. There are too many of us who have been just like him, and have found the riddle’s answer. This answer has to do with the quality of faith than its quantity. This has been our blind spot. We supposed we had humility when really we hadn’t. 
 
Q1.  Underline this and then write on it. Really go into meditation with this.
If Stephanie followed you around would she see a person who has integrity around your addiction? Your relationships: do you lie? Are you doing something you know is not right and covering it up?  Are you saying you do Quiet Time when you don’t? Do you want to do Quiet Time yet don’t make time for it? Do you want to have God in your life but fight it?

Q2.  Go into meditation with the 3rd Step prayer and write on this: What does quality of faith mean to you rather than quantity?
 
Q3. Do you truly know what humility is? 
Knowing about humility is important, but to what degree are you living it? 
Write out (as long as you want) on your own definition of humility. 
 
Q4. Do you feel uncomfortable when you are not living in humility?
 
Q5. Do you know how to ‘act as if’?  
 
We supposed we had been serious about religious practices when, upon honest appraisal, we found we had been only superficial.  Or, going to the other extreme, we had wallowed in emotionalism and had mistaken it for true religious feeling. In both cases, we had been asking something for nothing.  
 
Q6. Write down the above. It is OK to imperfectly/superficially do religious or spiritual practices. Stephanie is Living Proof. So don’t give up!
  It is so important to have Quiet Time every day. Bring the body and the mind will follow and then eventually the heart.  
 
Q7. Where are you today in your walk in being humble? 
Is there anybody in your life that you feel deserves your un-forgiveness?Â