The Little Red Book

Some more A.A. history.  The following texts are from a book called The Little Red Book.  While it's a Hazelden (and not Central Office approved) publication there was a lot of collaboration with our founders.  I find some of the stuff interesting.

Step One

Physical health is a necessity but only a first step in recovery from our alcoholic illness.

Occasionally, some of us have resorted to drugs to give physical comfort or to induce sleep.  This practice is out for all alcoholics . . . 

Step Two

Step Two deals with mental illness.  For, ‘However intelligent we may have been in other respects, wherever alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane.’

Mental handicaps stand between us and recovery.  Our lack of self-criticism defeats an honest evaluation of our alcoholism.  Usage of the word sanity offends our false pride.  We admit our illness but rebel against question of mental soundness.

We should never forget that our physical drunks are always preceded by mental binges that end in spiritual blackouts.  

Step Three

The first three steps are a composite A.A. package.  Conceived of meditation and experience, they are a basic recovery prescription.  Taken with proper timing and in correct proportion they immediately arrest our alcoholic illness.  Complimenting each other, however, they fail to work if any one of them is omitted. 

Steps One and Two are the premise upon which we decide to surrender our alcoholic lives to God.  Step Three calls for this decision.  Honesty, faith, and prayer spark our success.

By first deciding what isolates us from Him we reach a spiritual awakening as we eliminate the isolating factors (character defects).

We should avoid the common mistake of confusing our minds with anxious thoughts regarding the time and manner God will manifest Himself to us.  Our understanding will come gradually as we earn and develop it.

The alcoholic should also keep in mind the value of relaxation aside from prayer.  We should not overlook the fact that all alcoholics are of restless disposition, that restlessness and tension area part of our trouble, that we once appeased this condition with alcohol, that we now seek to correct it under God’s supervision.

Step Three confuses us only when we reverse its suggested application.  The step has three parts.  First, a decision.  Second, we try to determine what constitutes our life and will.  Third, we seek an understanding of God by placing them in his care.