Big Book Contents Please select a Chapter Preface Forward To First Edition Forward To Second Edition The Doctor's Opinion Bill's Story There is a Solution More About Alcoholism We Agnostics How It Works Into Action Working with Others To Wives The Family Afterward To Employers A Vision for You The A.A. Tradition Spiritual Experience The Medical View on A.A. The Lasker Award The Religious View on A.A. How To Get In Touch With A.A. 1st Edition Stories 2nd Edition Stories

First Edition 336 - 339

Personal Stories Please select a Story The Doctor's Nightmare The Unbeliever The European Drinker A Feminine Victory Our Southern Friend A Business Man's Recovery A Different Slant Traveler, Editor, Scholar The Back-Slider Home Brewmeister The Seventh Month Slip My Wife and I A Ward of the Probate Court Riding the Rods The Salesman Fired Again The Fearful One Truth Freed Me! Smile with Me, At Me A Close Shave Educated Agnostic Another Prodigal Story The Car Smasher Hindsight On His Way An Alcoholic's Wife An Artist's Concept The Rolling Stone Now We Are Thousands *Lone Endeavor 2nd Edition Stories The Big Book

Truth Freed Me!

      IN MAY 1936, after a prolonged period of alcoholism, my friends, my associates, my superiors, and those people who really loved me in spite of embarrassments too numerous to mention, finally left me because they had come to the conclusion that I didn't have any idea of doing or trying to do the right thing.
      I was a spineless individual who didn't care a rap for anyone or anything-I was hopeless and knew it-and then in my extremity, The Divine Comforter, "Truth" came to me in a barroom where I had spent the major portion of six weeks.
      The Divine Comforter, in my experience, came in the guise of a former drinking companion whom I had assisted home on several occasions. Because of physical infirmities brought about by alcoholic success, he had been unable to walk a distance of three blocks to his home unassisted, when I last saw him. Now he approached me, and to my amazement he was sober and appeared greatly improved in physical condition.
      He induced me to take a ride with him, and as we rode along told me of the marvelous thing that had come into his life. He had more than a practical idea of my difficulties, he also had a logical and practical idea as to how they might be overcome.
      He started the conversation by explaining acute alcoholism and stated very bluntly that I was an alcoholic.

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This was news to me in spite of the fact that I had promised everybody East of the Mississippi, if they would take time to listen, that I was through with drink. At the time I made these promises, I honestly wanted to quit drinking, but for some unknown reason hadn't seemed able to. He told me why I failed.
      He then suggested that I accompany him to a local doctor who had been helpful to him. It took forty-eight hours of persuasion and quite a few drinks to fortify myself, but I finally agreed to go. The doctor turned out to be one who had been an alcoholic himself, and in gratitude for the release he had found and because he understood the true meaning of the phrase "Brotherly Love" was spending a great portion of his time helping unfortunate individuals like myself.
      With the help and advice of these two individuals and two or three associates, I was able, for the first time in two and a half years, to stay sober for six weeks, and then disastrously tried the beer experiment. For some time I couldn't get hold of myself, but gradually came out of hiding and exposed myself again to this influence which had been so helpful.
      July 2, 1936, I again contacted the two individuals, and since that day I have never had a drink. However, because of the difficulties I encountered as the result of the beer experiment, I was unable for some time to find reality in this new way of life. I was doubtful, fearful, full of self-pity, afraid to humiliate myself.
      This unreality lasted until December 11th, when I was faced with the absolute necessity of raising a sum of money. For the first time came the realization that

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I was faced with a difficulty from which I seemed unable to extricate myself. Of course, I to ok time out to bemoan the fact that "after all I'd done, this had to happen to me" but on the advice of my wife, I reluctantly went to a banker.
      I told him my story completely. I went to him believing that my need was money. I went there as a last resort to attempt to pry it loose to meet my needs. My need was not money, but again I had been led to the proper source. After having related my story to the banker, who knew my reputation not only as an alcoholic but as an individual who didn't pay his bills, he said, "I know something of what you are trying to do, and I believe you are on the right track. Are you right with the Father who knows y our needs before you ask? If so, you are not dependent upon this bank or any individual in it, or any rules by which we operate, because your help comes from an ever present and all powerful Father. I am going to do everything I can to secure this loan for you. However, I don't want anything that happens here to throw you off the track, I want you to leave here feeling that you have done everything you could to secure those funds, and go about your business. Your business is business with God's work. I don't know whether that calls for you to go and collect a bill, sell some new contract, or to sit quietly and pray, but your Father knows and if you will but permit Him, He will direct you."
      I had again found reality. My needs were met from another entirely unexpected source.

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The manifestations of this ever present Power in my experience since 1936 are too numerous to mention. Let it suffice to say that I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities I have had of seeing and knowing "TRUTH."

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