Page 176 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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A VISION FOR YOU 155
God. Selecting a church at random from the directory,
he stepped into a booth and lifted the receiver.
His call to the clergyman led him presently to a
certain resident of the town, who, though formerly
able and respected, was then nearing the nadir of
alcoholic despair. It was the usual situation: home in
jeopardy, wife ill, children distracted, bills in arrears
and standing damaged. He had a desperate desire to
stop, but saw no way out, for he had earnestly tried
many avenues of escape. Painfully aware of being
somehow abnormal, the man did not fully realize
what it meant to be alcoholic.*
When our friend related his experience, the man
agreed that no amount of will power he might muster
could stop his drinking for long. A spiritual experi­
ence, he conceded, was absolutely necessary, but the
price seemed high upon the basis suggested. He told
how he lived in constant worry about those who might
find out about his alcoholism. He had, of course, the
familiar alcoholic obsession that few knew of his drink­
ing. Why, he argued, should he lose the remainder
of his business, only to bring still more suffering to
his family by foolishly admitting his plight to people
from whom he made his livelihood? He would do
anything, he said, but that.
Being intrigued, however, he invited our friend to
his home. Some time later, and just as he thought he
was getting control of his liquor situation, he went on
a roaring bender. For him, this was the spree that
ended all sprees. He saw that he would have to face

* This refers to Bill’s first visit with Dr. Bob. These men later be­
came co-founders of A.A. Bill’s story opens the text of this book; Dr.
Bob’s heads the Story Section.