Good Morning all!

Paragraph 2 - Page 35: "Jim the car salesman" is example number 2 of
alcoholic insanity. Reading through paragraph 3 on this page: "We
told him what we knew of alcoholism and the answer we had found. He
made a beginning."

"Making a beginning" means he had completed the first three
steps. "His family was re-assembled, and he began to work as a
salesman for the business he had lost through drinking."

There is a situation ripe for a resentment. "All went well for a
time, but he failed to enlarge on his spiritual life." He didn't
continue on with the rest of the program - Steps 4-12. He got drunk
again, and here's how, as recorded on Page 36 paragraph 1:

"I remember I felt irritated (resentful) that I had to be a salesman
for a concern I once owned. I had a few words with the boss..."
(expressing his resentment no doubt!) He continues in this paragraph
to be sane, but watch out!

Next paragraph - all italics. The insane thought: "SUDDENLY THE
THOUGHT CROSSED MY MIND THAT IF I WERE TO PUT AN OUNCE OF WHISKEY IN
MY MILK IT COULDN'T HURT ME ON A FULL STOMACH."

The insane idea was followed by action. Paragraph 4: "Thus started
one more journey to the asylum (treatment center) for Jim... HE HAD
MUCH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIMSELF AS AN ALCOHOLIC (which did him no good
whatsoever). YET ALL REASONS FOR NOT DRINKING WERE EASILY PUSHED
ASIDE IN FAVOR OF THE FOOLISH (insane) IDEA THAT HE COULD TAKE
WHISKEY IF ONLY HE MIXED IT WITH MILK!"

Page 37: "Whatever the precise definition of the word may be, we
call this plain insanity. How can such a lack of proportion, of the
ability to think straight, be called anything else?"

This is where the Big Book defines the "insanity" of Step 2 as the
state of mind that precedes the first drink.

Our next example starts at the bottom of page 37, paragraph 4: "The
Jaywalker." Read it through to the end of the second paragraph on the
following page. Although it seems ridiculous it is a fine example of
our state of mind.

Our last example is "Fred the Accountant". Go to page 39, paragraph
2. At the bottom of the page: "Fred would not believe himself an
alcoholic, (Step 1) much less accept a spiritual remedy (Step 2) for
his problem."

Reading through to the end of this paragraph at the top of page 40
it is clear that he also believes in self-knowledge. He tells what
happened beginning at paragraph 3 on page 40. Almost immediately he
is wrestling with the mental obsession.

Page 41, paragraph 1 - Here is the insane idea: "I went to my hotel
room and leisurely dressed for dinner. AS I CROSSED THE THRESHOLD OF
THE DINING ROOM, THE THOUGHT CAME TO MIND THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO
HAVE A COUPLE OF COCKTAILS WITH DINNER (and return to the mental
hospital). THAT WAS ALL. NOTHING MORE."

Next paragraph "...I HAD MADE NO FIGHT WHATEVER AGAINST THE FIRST
DRINK." Self knowledge fails again. He clearly demonstrates that we
have no effective mental defense against the first drink.

Bill's summary, last paragraph on page 43: "Once more: The alcoholic
at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first
drink. Except in rare cases, neither he nor any other human being
can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher
Power."

This is a very important point. This means that we can have all the
self knowledge we can get but still drink. It also means that human
power, our own or others (i.e., the fellowship), will not help us.
Finding God will.

With our next post, we start my favorite chapter in the Big Book:
Chapter 4, "We Agnostics" on page 44.

Have a great day everyone.

Jim

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