Goo Goo G’Joob

“I am he as you are he as you are me
and we are all together”

I Am The Walrus – Lennon/McCartney© 1967 Northern Songs.

At least we are all SUPPOSED to be.

Are you still trying to identify? Do you go to meetings and listen like I used to?

For years I would try to hear something with which I could identify (Not compare, of course. Oh no don’t ever do that. Whatever the hell that means) – and very often come away with that small tinge of dissatisfaction because “I didn’t identify with anyone here tonight.” – selfish pig that I was.

Well thank God I don’t have to do that anymore. I do though – when my agnosticism comes creeping in and selfishness and self-centeredness become the operative cause of my meeting going – when I am looking to “Get” instead of looking to “Give” of myself and of my experience as a recovered alcoholic.

They didn’t run around from meeting to meeting (Or hospital to asylum) looking for people with whom they could identify – and extract out of that their “Happy Thought” du jour. They went around looking for people who could identity with THEM – so that they might be able to take God to them – a God who would solve all their problems. Do you think Ebby T. went to Bill W. to bring him the Oxford Group way of life – to turn him onto God? Or did he go there so Ebby could stay sober one more day at a time?

Yeah I know what the Hollywood movie script says. *

Doctor Bob: “I’ve had my share of help. Let me tell you now-I consider my
problem “personal”. I don’t ask help from well meaning strangers. The best have tried their wares on me…medical men, psychiatrist, ministers. I’ve been prayed over and carved up more than a Christmas Turkey. So,…just what do you think a man like “you” can do for me?

Bill Wilson - “Dr”, I didn’t come here to help you, I came here to help me”

I can’t help but be moved myself. But is this really what Bill said? I don’t know. Neither do you. And neither did the screenplay writer. And if it did happen, is Bill helping himself to sobriety or was he helping himself to God – to spiritual growth – by giving of himself? After all, he was already sober. What would be left then?

What I do know from experience is that this is not a “Selfish program”.

The Program is one of selflessness – Dr. Silkworth, in one of his letters in the Chapter “The Doctors Opinion”, uses the word “Altruism” in describing these men.

The fact is that Bill W was already “Not drinking”. He got his miracle. He had his awakening in his hospital bed in NY – and here in Akron, the day before he needed – and GOT - the desire to drink lifted once more (After having not practiced the principles in all his affairs for six months) in the lobby of the Mayflower Hotel. He’s not looking for the desire to drink to be removed anymore – he’s looking to keep his spirituality – in service to God. Get it? SERVICE to God and his Fellows! That is a far cry from keeping one’s self busy helping others “So I don’t drink.”
When the co-founders went prospecting for candidates for spiritual awakening, they were not looking for folks with whom they could identify. They were looking for candidates who might identify with THEM! They were looking to bring God into their lives – not send them to meetings. (“All I can do is take him to a meeting” YUCH!)

Identification comes when the suffering alcoholic hears another human being who understands his situation in the Twelve Step approach. Once those Twelve Steps are taken and recovery has been had – they need for that identification has been served! Now it is time to let others identify with US!

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Peace,

Danny S
I AM the walrus

* Please, for God’s sake, don’t rely on movies for your historical knowledge – telling others, “This is fact”. PLEASE!