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A new book

Posted on August 14, 2024, tagged as Alcoholics Anonymous, higher power, second step

It has been less than a year since we released my book, The Twelve Step Pathway: A Heroic Journey of Recovery. I already have a contract with Authorhouse to publish my newest book, entitled Seeking a Higher Power: A Guide to the Second Step. In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous the message is delivered that a person needs a power greater than himself or herself in order to recover from alcoholism. The second step reads “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” (p. 59).While finding such a higher power is the ideal, for many this is an elusive goal. People may well come into the program bitter and disillusioned about any ideas about God, and are unclear about what to do to get past what seems to be a major obstacle. Sponsors tell newcomers to “not worry about the God stuff.” While this is good advice, I have come to believe that more help may be needed by a great many people. For me, the key is in the search itself. In the Big Book the reader is presented with what are referred to as “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. And c) That God could and would if he were sought.” (p. 60). The emphasis here is in the seeking. So, how does one go about seeking a higher power? I decided to write a book in which I cover many ideas that could be helpful, understanding that what helps one person may be of no use to another. Some of the diverse topics include love, spirituality, religion, Buddhism, and Native American spirituality. I have a section on Great Minds and Great Ideas including Joseph Campbell and the Heroic Journey, Carl Jung, Albert Einstein, and even a section on quantum physics and Eastern mysticism. In addition to my own writing, I have included quotations after each section from some of the finest thinkers the world has known. I lead off my book with a quotation from the Persian poet, Rumi: “That which you seek is seeking you.” This is a book that I doubt that people will read from cover to cover. It is more to be browsed through, highlighting topics that may seem to be of more immediate interest. What I hope is that it can serve to help people in their search for a higher power. If it does, I will be immensely grateful to have played a role in the recovery of people whom I will never encounter. Bill Wilson always emphasized the importance of being useful. In the Jewish religion we talk about the repair of the world. I will post when the book is available.