God’s Power—Alcoholics Anonymous #12
Step 12:
Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
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Spiritual Awakening
How can I tell you
All these feelings I feel?
How can I show you
I know it’s all real?
How can I tell you
I know it’s all true?
How can I tell you
It can change your life, too?
All I can do
Is let my light shine
And show by example
I know God’s divine.
He loves me; He nurtures me;
He carries me along.
He helps me; He tutors me;
He makes me so strong.
Now I must show you
This beautiful seed
Of spiritual awakening
He has planted in me.
God is real. He has healed me.
I must share this with you.
God is real. He is wonderful.
He can heal you now, too.
To better understand what a “Spiritual Awakening” really is, please read the blog post, Spiritual Awakening in Alcoholics Anonymous by Marc Galanter:
Alcoholics Anonymous has provided millions of people with a chance at recovery from addiction. There is one aspect of membership for some members that most people, even addiction specialists, are not aware of, namely, the remarkable transformation that many AA members call a spiritual awakening. It’s a remarkable phenomenon for anyone interested in social science on the addictions.
An awakening can be very dramatic in character, as one doctor described:
I was there in rehab with 50 bucks hidden in my sock. I wanted to get out and get on a subway and come home.
I went outside the building and was having a cigarette, when all of a sudden a sense of peace came over me and I didn’t see it, but I felt the presence of a person, and in my mind that person was Jesus. It was strange. I was sort of embarrassed. I felt his presence, and then a peace for no more than three or four minutes.
This seemed to be part of a message. I was set to come in from the cold. And then I listened and let these people help me. I realized that it was not about judging, it was about acceptance.
The awakenings are personal, and illustrate the individuality of respective members. They go a long way in helping to explain how some people get sober in the AA fellowship.
I’ve had many “spiritual awakenings” in my life. Sometimes they come after an hour of prayer, meditation, and soul-searching. Sometimes they come unexpectedly when I’m taking a shower or doing the dishes. Sometimes they come after months or years of patient pondering. The unseen, spiritual side of life is just as real as the tangible, physical side of life.
No matter what our addiction or compulsive behavior might be, there is hope and help for each of us. When your “spiritual awakening” comes, believe it, embrace it, and share it with others. It’s real.