“Others, trapped in a baffling dilemma or tempted to a rash decision, often say: ‘Not my will, but Thine be done.’” (ODAT, 17 April)
When I’m trapped in a baffling dilemma, I tend to think about the dilemma, the problem, the situation, the person. I tend to talk endlessly about it, as well.
Alcoholics’ alcoholism lies in their drinking.
My Al-Anonism lies my thinking, specifically unconstructive, obsessive, negative, or unrecovered thinking about the dilemma, the problem, the situation, the person.
Imagine going to an AA meeting to find everyone drinking!
That’s sometimes what Al-Anon meetings are a little bit like. One goes to find solutions to problems, but what one hears is unconstructive, obsessive, negative, or unrecovered talking about the dilemma, the problem, the situation, the person.
When I find myself engaged in such thinking, I repeat the above line about God’s will or other lines from prayers.
When I find myself exposed to this in others: likewise.
For alcoholics, anything is better than drinking.
For me, anything is better than thinking.