http://www.RA-News.org/ The E-Newsletter of Recoveries Anonymous; the Solution Focused Twelve Step Fellowship en-us http://www.RA-News.org/RA-News.gif http://www.RA-News.org/ 86 78 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/10/NL_1-Jan10.htm In the Big Book on page 17, in the third paragraph the pioneers tell us that, "The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism." January, 2010 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL__12-Dec09.htm In the Big Book on page 133, in the top paragraph it says, "We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence." December, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL__11-Nov09.htm In other fellowships, it is sometimes said that, "There are no 'musts' in the program." This misunderstanding is probably based on a quote from A.A.'s Twelve and Twelve. On page 129, in the third paragraph, we are told that the Twelve Traditions "repeatedly say 'We ought... ' but never 'You must!'" However, the Big Book and the program of recovery do tell us that there are certain "vital and crucial" things we "must" do to be successful in our search for recovery. While no one has to agree with us, in R.A. we have found that these "essential requirements" really are "vital to permanent recovery. November, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL__10-Oct09.htm Did you know that Dr. Bob said that there is more than one way to break the anonymity tradition? In "Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers," on page 264, in the third paragraph, Warren, an early A.A. member, says that, "He [Dr Bob] said there were two ways to break the anonymity Tradition: (1) by giving your name at the public level of press or radio; (2) by being so anonymous that you can't be reached by other drunks." October, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_9-Sep09.htm In the Big Book, on page 53, it says, "When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is, or He isn't. What was our choice to be?" In R.A., we take our cue from the way the pioneers of the program talk about powerlessness and God in the Big Book. September, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_8-Aug09.htm In the Multilith Big Book on page 40, in the last paragraph it says. "There is action and more action. 'Faith without works is dead.' What works? We shall treat them in the next chapter which is entirely devoted to step twelve," which is all about working with others. In the Multilith Big Book on page 41, the very next words they wrote, the first words in the chapter "Working With Others," say that, "Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure your own immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other spiritual activities fail." August, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_7-Jul09.htm The Big Book, on page 85, in the first paragraph, describes what we, in R.A., believe to be the essence of recovery. It says that, "What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. 'How can I best serve Thee—Thy will (not mine) be done.' These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will." July, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_6-Jun09.htm In some other programs, you may have heard it said that we have a progressive illness. However, in R.A., we find that we can have a progressive recovery. This simply depends upon which direction we are facing. If we face the problem, we may progress into the problem. If we face the recovery, we can progress into the recovery. We learn to live in the solution—we get better—we recover—by practicing the spiritual principles of the program. June, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_5-May09.htm For various reasons, many people in the program do not work the Twelve Steps. Some of them prefer to work a physical program of going to meetings and making phone calls. They go to meetings and share about their lives. They choose to depend upon people and make phone calls asking for someone to help stop them from hurting themselves or others. While we are glad that this seems to work for some people, our experience is that this does not work for everyone. May, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_4-Apr09.htm Almost everyone in the program has heard of the "Promises." Starting on the bottom of page 83 in the Big Book, the pioneers say that these promises will happen before we are halfway through the Ninth Step. They go on to say that these promises "will always materialize if we work for them." Many people also know about the Tenth Step's so-called "Hidden Promises" on the bottom of page 84. Among other things, they promise that as the result of working the steps, "sanity will have returned." However, we venture to guess that a lot of people are not aware that the Big Book has many other promises. All of these promises come as the result of following the pioneers' "clear-cut directions" for working the Twelve Steps of our program of recovery. April, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_3-Mar09.htm The pioneers had an understanding of God that they shared throughout the Big Book. No one has to agree with what they wrote. However, we would like to share a few quotes from the Big Book that give insight into how the pioneers understood God. We believe that this can help someone come to their own understanding of God so they can work the Twelve Step program of recovery. March, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_2-Feb09.htm "Suggest how important it is that [a newcomer] place the welfare of other people ahead of his own." This "clear-cut direction" is from page 94 in the Big Book. It is one of the first instructions that the pioneers give to a sponsor. While no one has to agree with us, we suspect that this simple sentence angers some people. February, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/09/NL_1-Jan09.htm The phrase, "God helps those who help themselves," represents a commonly held belief. Some might find comfort in it. However, many may be surprised to learn that this concept is not in the Big Book or in any of our other program literature. It also might surprise people to find out that this phrase is not in the Bible. January, 2009 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL__12-Dec08.htm "Take what you need and leave the rest" and "Take what you want and leave the rest" are expressions that are heard in many Twelve Step rooms. While these sayings may be helpful to some people, they can confuse others. Some people might think they can take what they need or want from the Twelve Step Program, ignore the rest, and still find the full recovery they seek. December, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL__11-Nov08.htm Many people spend a lot of time looking for the right sponsor. They exert a lot of energy searching for the perfect meeting. They scrutinize individuals and groups with a thoroughness that should be reserved for those running for public office. They put in all this time and effort because they believe their recovery is dependent upon their sponsor or group. November, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL__10-Oct08.htm We venture to guess that most people in a Twelve Step Program of Recovery have heard this phrase. If anyone gives the matter any thought at all, they probably think this concept comes from the Eleventh Tradition. However, this concept started almost two decades earlier. This happened when Bill Wilson, the co-founder of A.A., wanted to raise money for the program. He wrote what was to become the chapter "There is a Solution." October, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL_9-Sep08.htm "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." This is, of course, the Fourth Step. We venture to state that never have so few words caused so much confusion. Based on decades of experience we can also state that this confusion seems to be the main reason why the vast majority of people in other Twelve Step Programs stop at the Third Step. While no one has to agree with us, our opinion is that this confusion is caused by the way Steps Four through Seven are written. These steps use the words "moral," "wrongs," and "shortcomings" as synonyms for "defects of character." September, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL_8-Aug08.htm "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!" This might be true on the playground. However, words can and do hurt people if they are misunderstood by someone working the Twelve Step program of recovery. August, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL_7-Jul08.htm The Big Book gives "clear-cut directions" for a daily quiet time. It also makes "some definite and valuable suggestions" about prayer and meditation. On page 86 it says, "In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while." July, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL_6-Jun08.htm In the Big Book, on page 77 it says, "At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order." This has led some people to a mistaken belief. They think that the Twelve Step Program is somehow supposed to be "a selfish program." We suggest that these people also read the next two sentences. They say, "But this is not an end in itself. Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us." This surprises many people. They simply did not know that the program has a "real purpose" or that it is clearly stated in the Big Book. June, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL_5-May08.htm One of the main misconceptions about the Twelve Step Program is that you cannot have a permanent recovery. This is not true! In the Multilith Big Book, on page 28, in the bottom paragraph, Bill refutes this. He says that the decision we make in Step Three "can have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in yourself which have been blocking you." May, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL_4-Apr08.htm It might not be obvious at first, but the Big Book tells us that there are two parts to the program. On page 9, in the last full paragraph, Bill's friend Ebby tells how he was introduced to the program. He says that he was told "of a simple religious idea and a practical program of action." On page 42, in the second full paragraph, another early member, Fred, tells how the pioneers introduced him to the program. He says, "they outlined the spiritual answer and program of action which a hundred of them had followed successfully." April, 2008 http://www.RA-News.org/Newsletters/08/NL_3-Mar08.htm The Big Book contains many promises. The first one is in the Second Step. It says that we will come to believe that, "a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." There are many other promises in the Big Book. A number of them fall into place as we do the Ninth Step. March, 2008