GILL wrote:
> Ken wrote:
> more nonsense

Gill,

Just for you:

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.
Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely
give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are
constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are
such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born
that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a
manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less
than average.

There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental
disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be
honest.

Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what
happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we
have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are ready
to take certain steps.

At some of these we balked. thought we could find an easier, softer way.
But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you
to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried
to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go
absolutely.

Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful! Without
help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power that One
is God. May you find Him now!

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. we
asked His protection and care with complete abandon.

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

.. . .

Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our
personal adventure before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were sought.

Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn
our will and our life over to God as we understood Him. Just what do we
mean by that, and just what do we do?