Page 35 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

14 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

to establish and maintain the new order of things, were
the essential requirements.
Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It
meant destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn
in all things to the Father of Light who presides over
us all.
These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but
the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was elec-
tric. There was a sense of victory, followed by such a
peace and serenity as I had never known. There was
utter confidence. I felt lifted up, as though the great
clean wind of a mountain top blew through and
through. God comes to most men gradually, but His
impact on me was sudden and profound.
For a moment I was alarmed, and called my friend,
the doctor, to ask if I were still sane. He listened in
wonder as I talked.
Finally he shook his head saying, “Something has
happened to you I don’t understand. But you had
better hang on to it. Anything is better than the way
you were.” The good doctor now sees many men who
have such experiences. He knows that they are real.
While I lay in the hospital the thought came that
there were thousands of hopeless alcoholics who might
be glad to have what had been so freely given me.
Perhaps I could help some of them. They in turn
might work with others.
My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of
demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Par-
ticularly was it imperative to work with others as he
had worked with me. Faith without works was dead,
he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic!
For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his