"Robert McGregor" <robert_mcgregor@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:bue403$gilo1$1@ID-49289.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
> news:budv5u$uha$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
<snip>
> > At this time, I want to try and explain what Step 2 means to me.
<snip>

> > As you know, Step 2 says:
> >
> > "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore
us
> > to sanity".
> >
> > At this time, I believe that this NG, AA, my Sponsor and my HP
are
> > powers greater than myself. Why ? Because I'm convinced that
their
> > collective wisdom has given me - and will continue to give me -
the
> > additional strength I need to be able to not drink and also to be
able
> > to cope with life. And when I don't drink and when I'm able to
cope
> > with life, I have peace of mind. And when I have peace of mind,
IMO,
> > this means that I am restored to sanity.
> > .
> > Best regards
> >
> > JB
> >
>
> JB, your post reminded me of my own struggles coming to terms with
step two.
> Having experienced a psychic change from day one, when it dawned on
my
> alcohol befogged mind that possibly I need never drink again, I
temporarily
> "rewrote" step two, and changed the word "sanity" to the words
"emotional
> maturity."
>
> After a little study, I recognised that in context, the "insanity"
of step
> two referred to the insanity of taking the first drink, repeatedly,
despite
> disastrous consequences.

I do not disagree that Step 2 could be interpreted as you suggest. I
take a broader view of it because I know that irrespective of
whether or not I am drinking I still try at times to make life
perfect for me. I know that this will never happen and yet, I know
that I sometimes do the same things over and over again in the hope of
eventually producing the outcome I desire. What I'm doing is, IMO,
evidence of me acting insanely; it disturbs the balance of my mind
(ie it causes me to get angry, for example).

<snip>

> I ultimately ruled out the option you chose, collective wisdom,
probably on
> the grounds that all that supposed collective wisdom, came with an
equal and
> opposite collective absurdity.

(smiling). I wondered whether you might reply to this post and, if
so, whether you would comment on my use of the word "collective".
FWIW, almost immediately after posting my message, I regretted having
used that word. It suggests that I believe that all those whom I
mentioned speak as one. I know that is not true :^) I'm not
beating myself up about having chosen an inappropriate word. I don't
consider it's worth it :^)

> The end result of all those mental gymnastics, for me, was that in
taking,
> as fearlessly and thoroughly as possible, the most positive steps I
was
> aware of to continue my new-found abstinence, my spark of hope was
nurtured.
> Coincidental with that continued hope, my mind remained open to the
> possibility I could access an as yet unrealised resource. The
resource that
> others choose to call "God"
>
> By practising the principles I discovered in the steps, I learned
how to
> access that previously neglected resource, and hope became reality.
>
> "Trust that resource, ("God") then clean house, (steps four through
ten.)
> Then, open my psyche to all options, including options previously
rejected
> due to unresolved guilts, insane resentments and fears (prayer), and
query
> that inner resource, (meditation - step eleven.)
>
> In other words, trust "God" clean house, open house, ask "God."
Trust "God,"
> clean house, open house, ask "God." Trust "God," clean house, open
house,
> ask "God," ad infinitum.
>
I see no where in what you've said above any need to put trust in any
human being. At this stage of my recovery, I do not think I would
make much progress if I did not trust certain individuals to help me
see where I'm going wrong and what I need to do to right those wrongs.

Wishing you well.

JB