Grandpa Knows

From "Bill's Story" in the Plain Language Big Book comes this paraphrasing of Bill's growing realization that spirituality might be a big part of the solution to his alcohol problem: "I remembered how my grandfather believed that there was some great mystical force working in the world, but he didn't want the preacher to tell him what that force was or how it worked.  He wanted to make up his own mind about God and religion.  He didn't respect the people who went to church regularly and did exactly as they were told by the preacher.  ( I saw how) Everything worked in harmony.  Because of this, it seemed to me that there must be a Power greater than myself.  A Power that was guiding our world in some way.  So I believed there must be a God, but I had not made myself think about God's power or ability to help me.  But my friend told me when he connected with God, he was filled with hope and the courage to live and try again."

Here's an anonymous member sharing in "The Daily Reflections:" I was never known for my patience.  How many times have I asked: 'Why should I wait, when I can have it all right now?'  Indeed, when I was first presented with the Twelve Steps, I was like the proverbial 'kid in a candy store.'  I couldn't wait to get to Step Twelve; it was surely just a few months' work, or so I thought!  I realize now that living the Twelve Steps of A.A. is a lifelong undertaking."

Patient: Being able to tolerate delays, problems or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

When confronted with one of our important words like acceptance or humility or patience I often quip snarkily something like "Yeah, well, I don't know what that means - I should look it up when I get home."  The problem is when I look it up I'm not thrilled with what I find.  For instance, I'm lucky when I can tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without killing someone else or myself, even.

I'm liking the Plain Language Big Book.  It isn't offensive or shocking at all.  It's almost as if I'm asking a good friend to explain what a passage means in his or her own words.  What makes Bill W so infallible anyway?  I bet he made a mistake every now and then.