It is July Fourth weekend here
in the U.S. I have discussed many times how my recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous
has been predicated on my ability to see a little of myself in virtually
everyone’s story. It is this sense of identity and connectedness that allows me
to know I’m accepted in these rooms. Also, it is critically necessary for me to
be in this frame of mind for me to hear my Higher Power speak to me through
their vocal chords. It is some form of spiritual unity or oneness that is “just there.” I can’t explain it in much more depth
because it is a reality that I sense and know – yet is beyond rational or
intellectual verbiage.
Much the same can be said for my
participation in A Course In Miracles (ACIM). Here, however, I am hearing words
from the Text, the Workbook for Students or from the Manual for Teachers that
discusses the reality of what I’ve experienced in my 29 years of recovery in
AA. If I change my mind about how I perceive things or, over time, my outlook
changes, then my universe changes. I cannot explain it, but it happens. I
cannot trick it into happening, because my thoughts of perceiving differently
must be genuine. Nonetheless, it happens. I know it. I have experienced it. ACIM
states this spiritual change of perception (or Atonement) is the work of the
Holy Spirit.
However, there is a subtle
temptation to manipulate this reality. Understanding how AA works and being
able to conjure up empathy when listening to someone in a meeting might provide
a short-term sense of relief – but it will not provide a lasting recovery. In
ACIM, to study enough to acquire a cerebral understanding of the principle
tenets of the book will not provide an experiential “knowing” of the reality of
changed perception. In short, just “intellectually knowing” these programs
doesn’t seem to do very much. It’s all about working the programs. In AA it’s
working the steps with a sponsor; in ACIM it’s working the daily lessons in the
Workbook for Students.
Without my individual work these
programs don’t do very much. As mentioned, they may provide some fleeting
relief but not long-term peace and serenity.
This same distinction may be
applicable to some of the political rancor infecting our country today. There
is a very vital movement to re-establish a sense of personal liberty. The
clarion calls of this movement are captured in catch-phrases such as: Return to
the Constitution; Get the government off my back; Re-establish a smaller
government – let private business do the job; Get rid of business regulations; Don’t
take my guns away; Get our government back to reflecting our core (usually
fundamentalist Christian) values; The tree of liberty is watered with blood; Reducing
taxes will solve most of our problems; and so forth.
I have talked with folks
espousing this rhetoric. They are very vocal, fearful, angry, and energized, to
say the least. But quite often they are confusing a sense of personal liberty
with the constitutional idea of democratic freedom. Personal liberty, for them,
is a kind of benevolent anarchy. They will be responsible for themselves, thank
you very much, and will offer help to those who need it. However, if the
“needy” are racially, culturally, religiously, or sexually different – then
perhaps no assistance will be forthcoming. They reserve the right to help who
they want when they want. That is their right. That is what their personal
liberty means. There is not much in the way of an apparent recognition of
social oneness.
Personal liberty was important
as our country expanded westward and individuals had to rely on themselves and
a few neighbors, perhaps, to deal with calamity, outlaws, disease, natural
disasters, etc. They were self-reliant because they had to be. But we no longer
live in that world – nor can we return to it – the world of pony express and
stagecoaches to take and deliver goods and mail, no medical services to speak
of, no public safety, no structured educational process.
The constitutional idea of
democratic freedom is based on my commitment to voluntarily relinquish some of my
personal freedom in this or that area of my life in order to preserve my oneness in the social structure as a
whole. I relinquish my personal freedom as I vote and abide by the will of the
majority and then work to make that will work. The bumper sticker wisdom –
Freedom Isn’t Free – is true and not just because of the military. It isn’t
free because I work to give up my rights in many areas in order for my society
to thrive. If it thrives, I can thrive. If it doesn’t, I can’t.
I am not an island unto myself.
I am just a small thread in the fabric of society. My work is to dedicate
myself to improve the whole social structure. Much of that work requires me to
subjugate myself to the health of the whole. My freedom comes, not when I
become my own little island, but when my society grows and thrives. I work to
make that happen, just as I work to make AA and ACIM a reality.
As I’ve stated before, “I
have to understand, on a visceral level, who the “Me” or “I” really is when I
am speaking or thinking. The “I” that says to myself, “I really need a newer,
more reliable car” is a different “I” than the one that says to my Holy Spirit,
“I can’t do this anymore; help me perceive things the way You see them.”
Although
these messages are mostly for me, thanks for listening to me and getting to
know me – warts and all. As always, feel free to forward this message to your
friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual journey.
Don
#1 Jul 2016
Copyright 2016
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