“There I humbly offered myself to God, as I then understood Him, to do with me as He would. I placed myself unreservedly under His care and direction. I admitted for the first time that of myself I was nothing; that without Him I was lost.” (Chapter 1, Big Book)
- I cannot stop drinking once I start
- Sober insanity: a drink seems like a good idea
- If I am in charge I will drink based on this idea
- If I am not in charge, I will stay sober despite this idea
- If I am in charge I will not recover
- If I am not in charge I will recover
- Someone must be in charge
- That someone must be God
- “Humbly” = right-sized
- “Humbly” = recognising I am “nothing” (alone)
- That means I can achieve nothing while I am in charge
- True in relation to my drinking
- True in relation also to life
- What I achieve alone will not bring happiness
- Without him I am lost: I cannot determine the right thought or action
- With him I am found: I can be shown the right thought or action
- “As I then understood him”: the understanding need not be complete or accurate
- “To do with me as He would”: (a) I take the action He directs (b) I accept the outcome
- “Under His … direction”: (a) take the Twelve Steps (b) take direction on what actions to take all day, every day
- “Under His care”: this is the payback for being under God’s direction
- “Care” = protection against acting on the insane idea