What we learn from Jim's story

Having favourable circumstances will not stop you from relapsing.
Having a commendable past will not stop you from relapsing.
Being good at what you do will not stop you from relapsing.
Being intelligent will not stop you from relapsing.
Knowing you're an alcoholic will not stop you from relapsing.
Knowing you're in serious trouble will not stop you from relapsing.
Knowing the solution will not stop you from relapsing.
Wanting a solution will not stop you from relapsing.
Not wanting to drink will not stop you from relapsing.
Starting the programme will not stop you from relapsing.
Everything going well will not stop you from relapsing.
Getting your life together will not stop you from relapsing.
Being in an established routine will not stop you from relapsing.
Being in circumstances in which you previously stayed sober will not stop you from relapsing.
Having valid grounds for being where you are, doing what you are doing will not stop you from relapsing.
Being in a normal emotional state will not stop you from relapsing.
Being perfectly sane right now will not stop you from relapsing.
Being perfectly sane for a period of weeks or months (or years) will not stop you from relapsing.

When you relapse, there will be no warning.
You will move from sanity to insanity without realising you are doing it.
By the time the insane thinking has started, it is too late, and nothing you or anyone else can do, say, or think can stop it.
You might relapse today. You might relapse in a few months' time. There is no knowing when.

The only thing Jim did wrong was not enlarge his spiritual life through self-sacrifice and work for others. That's the Twelfth Step.

If you do not want to relapse, you had better start working the Twelfth Step.

If you're not on the Twelfth Step, you had better get cracking on the first eleven, as that is the only way to get to the Twelfth Step.