(wk 139) 28 August 2014 12-step study Big Book All Addictions Workshop

www.AA.org This has the Big Book and AA Reflections read at the Friday noontime Trust & Rely meeting.

12stepstudyworkshop.com has all the handouts and accumulated knowledge of Stephanie’s studies of the Big Book.

Donations to support the website:

Stephanie Whiting

P O Box 531

North Pembroke MA 02358

Stephanie has three groups running with the same number: 712 432 8816

and with the same callback number: 641 715-3900

(1)Tuesday 8am EST Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers pin 298913#

(2) Thursday 8am EST Big Book 12Step-Study Workshop pin 95666# ( All Addictions)

(3) Friday 12n EST Trust and Rely Workshop pin 91904#

Soul work

Big Book page 63:3

‘We found it very desirable to take this spiritual step with an understanding person, such as our wife, best friend or spiritual adviser. But it is better to meet God alone than with one who might misunderstand. The wording was, of course, quite optional so long as we expressed the idea, voicing it without reservation. This was only a beginning, though if honestly and humbly made, an effect, sometimes a very great one, was felt at once.’

Q1. Write down the following:

1) Stephanie is not my Higher Power!

2) I do not have to do anything that Stephanie says or suggests.

3) Look up the word suggestion so you really know what she is doing: she is only suggesting.

4) Know that Stephanie wants you to really own your Big Book and recovery.

Q2. Draw the spiritual triangle again with God/Higher Power at the top and on the left-hand bottom corner put your name and on the right-hand corner write your sponsor, step one fellowship, big book group, study buddy and program friends. Make sure you draw arrows pointing from both bottom corners up to God/Higher Power.

Q3. Are you willing to walk this journey with God on top, with your intellect over those feelings of fear, doubt, insecurity and any other negative feelings?

[It is so much easier to be told what to do rather than thinking for ourselves. When, for example, our step one fellowship tells us what to do, know they really have not studied the Big Book].

Q4. Questions to your sponsor.

Next week is talk-to-your-sponsor Thursday. Stephanie will be available to answer questions or hear comments until 10am EST. If you want to you can also e-mail a question to her: stephaniew324@aol.com

and she will bring it to the group (or text or phone her: 617 774 7016).

Q5. Fellowship*.

Bottom of page 63 is telling us something very very important. ‘We found it very desirable to take this spiritual step with an understanding person’. You need an understanding person. Get a buddy, get a group. If you don’t have a buddy or a group member list e-mail sue7263@aol.com explaining you need a buddy and to be put onto the group list.

* Call one another other, share honestly. Become intimate and really learn to trust each other.

Q6. What does ‘without reservation’ mean to you?

Stephanie says: “I wanted you to take the 3rd step without reservation. I don’t think any human being can be 100 percent about anything, but we can be willing to be willing to be without reservation – that is good enough.

I did not command you be willing to be willing. I did demand you not take step three if you could not say it honestly without reservation. Why? I cared enough for you to not take the commitment if you in your heart of hearts you were only doing it for the group or for me. Just as you say: God help me to be sober today, you can also say: God help me to be willing to be willing.

It is only a beginning. It is a lifetime of work and thoroughness. I work on my own recovery and relationship with my higher power and I do the service of giving it away. The work is awesome, I love it. And the service gives a joy I have never known in any other arena. It is the greatest work I do. And being with all of you, suiting up and showing up when I am asked. Please don’t stop asking me to show up for you. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I mean that. I cannot wait for next week to be with you until 10am – I love that. So don’t think you are bothering me, I love it.â€

…though if honestly and humbly made an effect, sometimes a very great one, was felt at once.

Q7. What do you want? Write from your heart.

Q8. Trust and Rely meeting on Friday at 12 noon

Stephanie: I really encourage you to come to the Trust & Rely meeting and if you cannot come live go to the recording and do what we are doing live – learn to write from your Higher Power and God.

That is the way we get well. We get honest with ourselves. We see who we are. We are really very beautiful people, but we won’t even appreciate ourselves if we don’t get to know ourselves.

The Trust & Rely meeting is really where this is all leading to. It is everything I got out of doing the Big Book process. I read something then I ask my Higher Power: “What do you want me to know about this? Then I write. It is not even me writing. It is my Higher Power writing through me. I then meditate and get even more. Meditating gives God more of a vehicle to talk to me and guide me. This is the whole purpose of doing the Big Book process: to really let your Higher Power guide your every step.

Ends.

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