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[00:00:01.040 – 00:00:07.180] Now, I'm going to speak for a few moments this evening on the subject of action. [00:00:07.180 – 00:00:14.980] We have a saying in Alcoholics Anonymous that action is the magic word. [00:00:14.980 – 00:00:25.100] Now, in order to understand how this works, I'm going to take you back to an article that appeared in the Reader's Digest [00:00:25.100 – 00:00:28.320] in May of 1949. [00:00:28.320 – 00:00:36.180] It was written by Fulton Oursler, and it was entitled The Story Behind the Story. [00:00:36.180 – 00:00:46.460] And it had to do with the occasion when this Russian school teacher, you know, if you will recall, jumped out of the third floor of the Russian Consulate [00:00:46.460 – 00:00:47.680] building in New York City.

[00:00:47.680 – 00:00:57.940] And the story takes us back to a little farmhouse up in Connecticut, and there a woman by the name of Louise McKeon was sitting [00:00:57.940 – 00:01:07.420] in her living room one Sunday morning reading the paper with her husband, and she suddenly looked up and she said, "I think this is terrible. [00:01:07.420 – 00:01:11.460] I think this is awful." And the husband said, "Now, wait a minute. [00:01:11.460 – 00:01:12.540] What's awful? [00:01:12.540 – 00:01:15.060] What's terrible?" "Well," she said, "they have… [00:01:15.060 – 00:01:25.460] It says here they have a, a woman imprisoned against her will in the consulate of the Russians in New York City, and I think that's terrible in such a place as America." [00:01:25.460 – 00:01:31.120] Well, the husband tried to quiet her a little, and he said, "Well, after all, that's, that's none of our business.

[00:01:31.120 – 00:01:35.640] You know, that's, uh, an international thing." But, uh, Louise insisted. [00:01:35.640 – 00:01:36.720] She said, "Well, I don't care. [00:01:36.720 – 00:01:47.080] I think we should do something about it." She said, "Father Keller says…" Now, incidentally, Father Keller, for those of you who, who do not know, [00:01:47.080 – 00:01:57.540] is the one that, uh, started the Christopher movement, and his basic theory is that if we tried to do [00:01:57.540 – 00:02:08.020] or if we did something about what we thought should be done in this world, so many more people would accomplish so much more that all of us would be amazed. [00:02:08.020 – 00:02:18.100] He was the one that out here in Hollywood Bowl some years back, in the darkness of the night, had one person to light a candle, and then he had all those thousands [00:02:18.100 – 00:02:28.160] who were seated there all to light a candle, and he showed how much effect of brightness came because each one lit that

[00:02:28.160 – 00:02:30.340] small little candle. [00:02:30.340 – 00:02:31.960] So anyhow, Mrs. [00:02:31.960 – 00:02:33.400] McKeon kept insisting. [00:02:33.400 – 00:02:43.640] She said, "Father Keller says we should try to do s- about these things." "Well, uh," the husband said, "what are we gonna do?" "Well," she said, "now I have [00:02:43.640 – 00:02:45.280] a, a cousin who is a lawyer. [00:02:45.280 – 00:02:48.640] He just graduated from law school in New York City. [00:02:48.640 – 00:02:58.840] I think we should go down and see him." Well, as so many husbands have in the past to placate his wife, he said, "Okay, we'll go down to New York City to see your cousin."

[00:02:58.840 – 00:03:09.080] So Monday morning, they went to New York City, went to this lawyer's office, and once again she kept insisting, "I think we should do something about [00:03:09.080 – 00:03:19.200] this imprisoning this woman against her will." Well, the lawyer said, "Now, uh, what should we do?" "Well," she said, "I don't know, but we should do something." Well, again to [00:03:19.200 – 00:03:23.880] placate her, the lawyer said, "Well, we could file a writ of habeas corpus. [00:03:23.880 – 00:03:29.480] I don't know if it would do much good." Well, again to placate her, he filed the writ. [00:03:29.480 – 00:03:39.660] And they were walking from his office, came to the street with this paper in his hand, and who should drive up in front of the consulate building but the Russian consul. [00:03:39.660 – 00:03:48.240] And as he got out of his limousine, he saw this fellow with the legal-looking document, and out of fear he grabbed it to destroy it. [00:03:48.240 – 00:03:51.460] And of course, in legal language, he was served.

[00:03:51.460 – 00:03:53.060] You know the rest of the story. [00:03:53.060 – 00:03:54.640] It was in the papers. [00:03:54.640 – 00:03:56.920] It was in the international affairs. [00:03:56.920 – 00:03:59.060] Finally, it was on the radio. [00:03:59.060 – 00:04:06.600] Crowds gathered in front of the consulate building, and up on the third floor this Russian schoolteacher was walking back and forth. [00:04:06.600 – 00:04:09.870] Her mind had been drugged by the Russians. [00:04:09.870 – 00:04:20.420] In all this babble of tongue, she finally looked out the window and recognized her name, and that for just a flash of recognition

[00:04:20.420 – 00:04:22.760] gave her the idea, friends. [00:04:22.760 – 00:04:30.200] And on the spur of the moment she jumped, and the rest of the story, uh, is well known. [00:04:30.200 – 00:04:40.260] Nothing so crystallized the knowledge in the hearts of Americans of the cr- duplicity and res- deceit of the Russians than that one incident, [00:04:40.260 – 00:04:50.580] all because one housewife from up on a farm in Connecticut did something about what she thought should be done [00:04:50.580 – 00:04:52.680] instead of merely thinking about it. [00:04:52.680 – 00:05:02.760] Now, we know that most of our problems of life would be solved if we only did something about them instead of thinking about them, particularly the [00:05:02.760 – 00:05:03.520] alcoholic.

[00:05:03.520 – 00:05:09.400] How many times in the past did we not solve all our problems? [00:05:09.400 – 00:05:09.980] Man [00:05:10.962 – 00:05:13.082] with a bottle in one hand and a glass in the other. [00:05:13.082 – 00:05:15.042] Finally, we didn't need the glass. [00:05:15.042 – 00:05:25.212] But actually, we did nothing about them, and the problems increased and multiplied, and the drinking continued and got [00:05:25.212 – 00:05:25.642] worse. [00:05:25.642 – 00:05:32.002] That's the reason we were perfectionist, and procrastinators, and dreamers.

[00:05:32.002 – 00:05:42.102] That's the reason the AA book tells us that the alcoholic should have a minimum of analysis and a maximum of action, because [00:05:42.102 – 00:05:44.462] action is the magic word. [00:05:44.462 – 00:05:54.922] It's the reason that psychoanalysis can be so dangerous to the alcoholic, because the alcoholic already has too much analysis [00:05:54.922 – 00:05:56.942] and too little action. [00:05:56.942 – 00:06:07.302] The reason that so many in AA slip, you know what that means, Is because they've taken all 12 steps [00:06:07.302 – 00:06:15.602] mentally, but they have done nothing about them, and so their problems continue, keep growing, and they drink again. [00:06:15.602 – 00:06:21.582] The reason that the 12 steps are written in the past tense, have you ever realized that?

[00:06:21.582 – 00:06:31.082] All 12 steps are written in the past tense because they presume action. [00:06:31.082 – 00:06:33.902] We admitted we were powerless. [00:06:33.902 – 00:06:35.642] We came to believe. [00:06:35.642 – 00:06:37.822] We made a decision. [00:06:37.822 – 00:06:38.902] All past tense. [00:06:38.902 – 00:06:42.822] Made a searching and fearless inventory. [00:06:42.822 – 00:06:44.882] Admitted to God.

[00:06:44.882 – 00:06:46.882] Humbly asked. [00:06:46.882 – 00:06:48.822] We're entirely ready. [00:06:48.822 – 00:06:50.022] All past tense. [00:06:50.022 – 00:06:51.622] Made a list. [00:06:51.622 – 00:06:53.802] Made direct amends. [00:06:53.802 – 00:06:56.462] Continued to take. [00:06:56.462 – 00:07:00.162] Sought through prayer and meditation.

[00:07:00.162 – 00:07:03.462] Having had a spiritual awakening. [00:07:03.462 – 00:07:06.362] We tried to carry. [00:07:06.362 – 00:07:11.022] All indicating the necessity and presuming action. [00:07:11.022 – 00:07:21.421] And the reason that so many conflicts still remain in so many of us is because there is still too much thought [00:07:21.422 – 00:07:23.042] and too little action. [00:07:23.042 – 00:07:33.162] Have you ever realized that the only reason that we have Alcoholics Anonymous today is because Bill W., our founder, [00:07:33.162 – 00:07:39.582] acted, he took action, when he was in Akron almost 21 years ago.

[00:07:39.582 – 00:07:45.922] Now, let's analyze the 12 steps and see practically how this works. [00:07:45.922 – 00:07:48.942] In the first step, the admission. [00:07:48.942 – 00:07:55.802] Not many of us, as I said before, have made that admission many times in our life mentally. [00:07:55.802 – 00:07:59.502] "Yeah, I'm afraid I am an alcoholic. [00:07:59.502 – 00:08:05.282] Isn't it terrible?" Because we did nothing about it. [00:08:05.282 – 00:08:12.922] You know, the worst frustration in the world is to take the first step without the subsequent steps. [00:08:12.922 – 00:08:15.422] I am an alcoholic.

[00:08:15.422 – 00:08:18.022] I am powerless over alcohol. [00:08:18.022 – 00:08:19.822] "Isn't it terrible? [00:08:19.822 – 00:08:30.342] Poor me." Now, when we come to AA, we again admit we're powerless, we're alcoholic, [00:08:30.342 – 00:08:39.042] but then immediately we come to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. [00:08:39.042 – 00:08:49.202] Now, I'm going to make a statement which might sound a little bit screwy, but if you just bear with me, I think it gradually [00:08:49.202 – 00:08:59.202] will make sense, and that statement is that each step of the AA program contains the action [00:08:59.202 – 00:09:04.262] of the next step, so that you can't take any step without taking the next step.

[00:09:04.262 – 00:09:07.802] Now, if you don't believe that, just listen. [00:09:07.802 – 00:09:11.101] In the first step, we admit we're powerless. [00:09:11.101 – 00:09:21.162] Now, if that's honest, then if there is action, if we're powerless, we must have something to substitute for that power, which is the second [00:09:21.162 – 00:09:21.432] step. [00:09:21.432 – 00:09:28.041] We came to believe in a power greater than ourselves that it could restore us to sanity. [00:09:28.041 – 00:09:35.462] Now, if that's honest, if there is a power to restore us, then we're gonna do something about it. [00:09:35.462 – 00:09:42.662] Made a decision to turn our life and our will over to the care of God as we understand him.

[00:09:42.662 – 00:09:52.882] Now, if this is honest, if this has action, then we must, in order to do that, we must make a searching [00:09:52.882 – 00:09:55.262] and moral inventory of ourselves. [00:09:55.262 – 00:09:59.082] How can we turn anything over to God if we don't know what we're turning over? [00:09:59.082 – 00:10:07.942] Have you ever heard a merchant sell a store and say, "Ha, want to buy a store?" And the buyer say, "Yeah, what's in the store?" He said, "Oh, I don't know. [00:10:07.942 – 00:10:08.762] Just a store. [00:10:08.762 – 00:10:12.882] Want to buy a store?" The first thing we want to know, what's in the store? [00:10:12.882 – 00:10:20.012] And therefore, when we turn our life to God, we want to know what is this life, its good points, its bad po-

[00:10:20.148 – 00:10:20.438] points. [00:10:20.438 – 00:10:25.378] Its talents, its faults, everything, a complete inventory. [00:10:25.378 – 00:10:30.738] So we made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. [00:10:30.738 – 00:10:40.838] Now, if this is true, if this is honest, then we must admit it to God, to ourselves, and to another [00:10:40.838 – 00:10:44.858] human being the exact nature of our wrongs. [00:10:44.858 – 00:10:49.678] Now, all right, here something's gonna balk, say, "Gee, it's bad enough to admit it to God. [00:10:49.678 – 00:10:56.678] You mean to tell me I gotta go to another human being?" Well, that's action, and action is the magic word.

[00:10:56.678 – 00:11:07.338] Then if that's honest, if this admission is honest, we have to, we humbly ask God to remove these shortcomings. [00:11:07.338 – 00:11:12.298] Now, here again, action calls for footwork. [00:11:12.298 – 00:11:22.688] We can't just go in our s- living room, say, "Oh, please, God, remake my life." He will, but I think He will remind us, when you pray for potatoes, [00:11:22.688 – 00:11:24.618] reach for a hoe. [00:11:24.618 – 00:11:32.718] You know, there was a fellow came to see me from a group rather distant from Indianapolis. [00:11:32.718 – 00:11:40.658] When he came, he said, "Father, I've got problems." I said, "Oh, you've got problems?" "Yeah," he said, "I've been in AA now eight, nine, 10 months." I don't know what it was. [00:11:40.658 – 00:11:50.658] And he said, "I haven't got a job as yet." I said, "Oh, you haven't?" "No," he says, uh, uh, "I have prayed and prayed and prayed for a job." He says, "In fact, I go to church every morning

[00:11:50.658 – 00:12:00.798] asking for a job." I said, "Of course you go out and look for one." "Well," he said, "no, but I pray for one." They tell the story of the fellow [00:12:00.798 – 00:12:10.918] who was at the prizefight, and between the rounds, he noticed that one of the prizefighters made the sign of the cross, and he happened to spy a priest sitting not too [00:12:10.918 – 00:12:11.538] far from him. [00:12:11.538 – 00:12:25.758] So finally he leaned over and he said, "Say, Father, will that help him win the fight?" And the priest said, "It will if he can fight." Now, [00:12:25.758 – 00:12:34.278] again, if this asking God is sincere, then we must be ready to have him remove these shortcomings. [00:12:34.278 – 00:12:38.598] Willingness for God to work on us. [00:12:38.598 – 00:12:48.678] Now, if that's sincere, then if we take that step, we have to take the next step: make a list of the persons we had harmed in order to make up

[00:12:48.678 – 00:12:50.638] for these shortcomings. [00:12:50.638 – 00:12:55.178] And here again, the Big A-A Book suggests that it be written. [00:12:55.178 – 00:12:55.718] Why? [00:12:55.718 – 00:13:05.778] Because action is the magic word, and when we write it out, we can look at it in the concrete to see ourselves [00:13:05.778 – 00:13:09.378] as others see us, and eventually as God sees us. [00:13:09.378 – 00:13:16.638] Now, when we make that list, if that's honest, then we have to make direct amends. [00:13:16.638 – 00:13:23.558] Go to the individual and make up for all the wrongs that we had done in the past.

[00:13:23.558 – 00:13:28.478] Now, here again, the Big A-A Book suggests that we go directly. [00:13:28.478 – 00:13:34.138] Notice it says, "Direct amends," indicating the value of action. [00:13:34.138 – 00:13:39.058] Ordinary justice and rights would not demand that. [00:13:39.058 – 00:13:49.128] We could simply, if I stole, for instance, $10 from John Doe, I could simply sit down and send the $10 to John Doe and not ever let him know anything about it, [00:13:49.128 – 00:13:52.538] as far as God's concerned, as far as my conscience. [00:13:52.538 – 00:14:03.078] But A-A says, "No, make direct amends," because action is the magic word, actions of humility, and no one needs humility more [00:14:03.078 – 00:14:05.878] than the pathologically proud alcoholic.

[00:14:05.878 – 00:14:14.998] Now I'm gonna stop a moment and try to point out that the A-A program is divided into three different sections. [00:14:14.998 – 00:14:18.878] The first section is the first step, we admit it. [00:14:18.878 – 00:14:19.738] That's the door. [00:14:19.738 – 00:14:23.077] And oh, how many look in and then they run. [00:14:23.077 – 00:14:24.857] But they'll be back. [00:14:24.857 – 00:14:27.938] They'll be back sometime. [00:14:27.938 – 00:14:38.058] I heard somebody make a remark the other night at one of the meetings that I thought was very valuable, and he said, "They tell us that 75%

[00:14:38.058 – 00:14:48.718] of all AAs who come to AA stay sober, even though the alcoholic who does not come to AA has only 25% [00:14:48.718 – 00:14:59.568] of achieving sobriety." So the average fellow or gal who comes into the door, hm, even though he don't stay, someday he's gonna come back, [00:14:59.568 – 00:15:00.288] sooner or later. [00:15:00.288 – 00:15:04.698] Then step two to nine, that's getting on the program. [00:15:04.698 – 00:15:12.758] That's where we ready ourselves for living and for living soberly and happily. [00:15:12.758 – 00:15:22.218] And then 10, 11, and 12, that is the continued actions of living the program day in and day out. [00:15:22.218 – 00:15:29.988] 10, the continued inventory, 11, sought, continued to seek through prayer and meditation, and the 12th

[00:15:30.183 – 00:15:33.913] step in carrying this message to other alcoholics. [00:15:33.913 – 00:15:38.813] And there again, we can't take one without taking the subsequent step. [00:15:38.813 – 00:15:43.493] Because if I continue to take inventory, what am I gonna find there? [00:15:43.493 – 00:15:51.433] I'm gonna find that I still have faults, yes, serious ones, five years, 10 years, 15 years after I get on the program. [00:15:51.433 – 00:16:01.523] Now, if I still have faults, therefore I had better seek through prayer and meditation in order that God will help me to rid myself of these [00:16:01.523 – 00:16:02.273] faults. [00:16:02.273 – 00:16:08.653] Now, if I seek through meditation to improve my conscious contact with God, you know what I'm gonna find out?

[00:16:08.653 – 00:16:12.053] I'm gonna find out certain things I owe my neighbor. [00:16:12.053 – 00:16:16.593] I'm gonna find from God that I keep this thing if I give it away. [00:16:16.593 – 00:16:25.293] And so I have to take the 12 step and carry the message to other alcoholics, because action is the magic word. [00:16:25.293 – 00:16:33.813] You know, it even indicates there, it says, "We tried to carry the message." It doesn't say we succeeded. [00:16:33.813 – 00:16:36.033] You know, so many make a mistake. [00:16:36.033 – 00:16:38.633] You know, you've seen it happen. [00:16:38.633 – 00:16:45.823] Here's the John Doe, and he calls on 10 guys, and, uh, they all stay drunk.

[00:16:45.823 – 00:16:48.453] All his babies get drunk again. [00:16:48.453 – 00:16:49.913] And what happened? [00:16:49.913 – 00:16:52.133] "It's awful. [00:16:52.133 – 00:16:59.573] I must not even be a good alcoholic." "Maybe a little drink might help me." Then here's another fellow. [00:16:59.573 – 00:17:03.713] He calls on 10 alcoholics, and they all stay sober. [00:17:03.713 – 00:17:06.413] They all make the program, and then what happens? [00:17:06.413 – 00:17:10.893] "Hmm, look at me, best little sponsor in the area.

[00:17:10.893 – 00:17:20.973] 10 men, they're all sober." Then he goes home, he looks into the mirror, and then he admires that big-shot sponsor in the mirror, and then he invites that guy in the mirror [00:17:20.973 – 00:17:21.733] out for a drink. [00:17:21.733 – 00:17:31.733] It says, "We tried." Then we [00:17:31.733 – 00:17:38.073] have succeeded for us, because we have taken action, and action is the magic word. [00:17:38.073 – 00:17:39.792] Even in prayer, what does it tell us? [00:17:39.792 – 00:17:41.673] What did it tell us centuries ago? [00:17:41.673 – 00:17:52.193] That, "He who says, 'Lord, Lord,' will not enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father." He who does it, he will

[00:17:52.193 – 00:17:53.533] enter the kingdom of heaven. [00:17:53.533 – 00:17:55.873] Action is the magic word. [00:17:55.873 – 00:18:00.813] Now let's take a few examples of our everyday problems. [00:18:00.813 – 00:18:11.073] First of a go- all resentments of which every alcoholic is heir to, and which every alcoholic must avoid, and to whom [00:18:11.073 – 00:18:13.433] they are very, very dangerous. [00:18:13.433 – 00:18:16.453] We can't wish away resentments. [00:18:16.453 – 00:18:24.273] We can't go and say, "Well, gee, I wish I didn't resent so-and-so." We can wish till kingdom come, and we will still resent so-and-so.

[00:18:24.273 – 00:18:29.153] We must practice actions of love for so-and-so. [00:18:29.153 – 00:18:31.113] We must do something for them. [00:18:31.113 – 00:18:33.293] Do something good for them. [00:18:33.293 – 00:18:35.213] Say something good about them. [00:18:35.213 – 00:18:36.233] Pray for them. [00:18:36.233 – 00:18:46.253] The positive action of love is the only thing that will eliminate the negative attitude of resentment, because action is the [00:18:46.253 – 00:18:47.492] magic word.

[00:18:47.492 – 00:18:49.793] Then temptations. [00:18:49.793 – 00:18:56.153] How many people have temptations because they do nothing about the source of temptation? [00:18:56.153 – 00:19:06.213] We had a fella came into our group one time in Indianapolis, and he said, "You know, fellas," he said, "a, a, a reason I have slips," he says, "because I gotta work around liquor all [00:19:06.213 – 00:19:10.853] the time." Of course, he didn't seem to realize he could've got another job. [00:19:10.853 – 00:19:14.013] Wasn't such a good job he had anyway. [00:19:14.013 – 00:19:16.933] Do something about it. [00:19:16.933 – 00:19:19.533] Action is the magic word.

[00:19:19.533 – 00:19:20.713] Nervousness. [00:19:20.713 – 00:19:23.233] You know the reason so many of us are nervous? [00:19:23.233 – 00:19:24.933] Two reasons. [00:19:24.933 – 00:19:35.013] We have never done anything about getting rest day in and day out, and we have never done anything about the problems of our life, which have us in the middle day in [00:19:35.013 – 00:19:35.813] and day out. [00:19:35.813 – 00:19:39.813] And so we're nervous, we're tense, we're jittery, we're sleepless. [00:19:39.813 – 00:19:42.633] Action is the magic word.

[00:19:42.633 – 00:19:44.733] Then a neurosis. [00:19:44.733 – 00:19:47.672] You know what a neurosis is? [00:19:47.672 – 00:19:53.353] A neurosis is too much thought and too little action. [00:19:53.353 – 00:19:55.933] Action is the magic word. [00:19:55.933 – 00:20:00.553] You know, the trouble with a person with a neurosis, uh, they're afraid to take action. [00:20:00.553 – 00:20:07.073] Fear is so dominant in their, uh, consciousness at that time, so they're afraid anything they do will be wrong. [00:20:07.073 – 00:20:14.692] Well, to them I say, "Well, do anything." There's only one creature in life that can't stumble, and that's a worm.

[00:20:14.692 – 00:20:24.843] So any action is better than inaction, [00:20:24.843 – 00:20:28.553] because action is the magic word. [00:20:28.553 – 00:20:30.933] Then fear. [00:20:30.933 – 00:20:38.753] Fear means that we must take action and find out what the fear is, and then do something about it. [00:20:38.753 – 00:20:40.062] For ex- [00:20:40.202 – 00:20:48.242] Centuries, the advice about fear has been given to act contrary to fear, not to run away from fear. [00:20:48.242 – 00:20:51.182] Action is the magic word.

[00:20:51.182 – 00:20:53.082] Then avarice. [00:20:53.082 – 00:20:58.502] You know, that means tightness, and I don't mean in the drinking sense either. [00:20:58.502 – 00:21:05.762] And you know, to me, this is the enigma of AA, how tight alcoholics can become after they sober up. [00:21:05.762 – 00:21:15.822] Let your chairman or your group secretary, whatever he or she is, ask [00:21:15.822 – 00:21:19.002] for a little help extra, and they hit high heaven. [00:21:19.002 – 00:21:23.962] And right away, they drag out that timeworn excuse, "No dues, no fees. [00:21:23.962 – 00:21:25.022] What the heck?

[00:21:25.022 – 00:21:29.242] AA don't cost nothing." Well, maybe it doesn't. [00:21:29.242 – 00:21:31.562] Sobriety doesn't cost anything. [00:21:31.562 – 00:21:34.342] But I'm gonna tell you a little story about that. [00:21:34.342 – 00:21:44.362] It's the story of the preacher, was preaching one time, and he was preaching about salvation, and he was telling his congregation that salvation [00:21:44.362 – 00:21:45.742] was absolutely free. [00:21:45.742 – 00:21:49.642] He said, "It's just like the water that the good Lord gives us. [00:21:49.642 – 00:21:51.322] It doesn't cost us a cent.

[00:21:51.322 – 00:21:54.562] It's absolutely free." And then he took up a collection. [00:21:54.562 – 00:22:03.162] Well, after the sermon, one of his congregation came up and he says, "Look here, preacher." He says, "You say our salvation's free, and then you take up a collection. [00:22:03.162 – 00:22:03.622] How come? [00:22:03.622 – 00:22:06.342] How come?" "Well," the preacher says, "that's true. [00:22:06.342 – 00:22:11.782] Salvation is free." He said, "It's just like the water in the world I told you. [00:22:11.782 – 00:22:14.442] The Lord gives it to you absolutely free. [00:22:14.442 – 00:22:24.762] But when it comes to the piping, you've gotta pay for it." Then

[00:22:24.762 – 00:22:26.242] family conflicts. [00:22:26.242 – 00:22:32.242] Family conflicts continue and become complicated because we don't do something about it. [00:22:32.242 – 00:22:35.082] Action is the magic word. [00:22:35.082 – 00:22:36.782] Group conflicts. [00:22:36.782 – 00:22:43.862] How many group conflicts go on day after day and week after week and month after month because we don't do something about it? [00:22:43.862 – 00:22:47.242] A lot of talk, uh, but no action. [00:22:47.242 – 00:22:50.732] Then in the virtue of humility.

[00:22:50.732 – 00:22:56.202] If there's ever one virtue that must be acquired only by action, it's humility. [00:22:56.202 – 00:22:59.162] We can't think ourselves into humility, of all things. [00:22:59.162 – 00:23:15.682] Although, you know, you and I both have heard the fellow or the gal get up and they'll say, "Well, now, since I have become humble, I'm proud of my humility." Or [00:23:15.682 – 00:23:25.802] the guy who said, "If you haven't read my book on humility, you haven't read anything yet." Then [00:23:25.802 – 00:23:26.422] worry. [00:23:26.422 – 00:23:30.462] You know, every alcoholic is at heart a worrywart. [00:23:30.462 – 00:23:32.482] What is worry?

[00:23:32.482 – 00:23:34.882] Too much thought and too little action. [00:23:34.882 – 00:23:37.882] Too much thought and too little action. [00:23:37.882 – 00:23:48.182] I'm gonna make a remark which I think has a tremendous value, and that is that our future is determined not so much by our plans [00:23:48.182 – 00:23:51.762] for tomorrow as by our actions today. [00:23:51.762 – 00:23:53.382] I'm gonna repeat that. [00:23:53.382 – 00:24:02.582] Our future is determined not nearly so much by our plans for tomorrow as by our actions today. [00:24:02.582 – 00:24:04.142] Do something about it.

[00:24:04.142 – 00:24:07.202] Action is the magic word. [00:24:07.202 – 00:24:10.522] And then irascibility, you know, anger. [00:24:10.522 – 00:24:20.582] Speaking of anger, they tell the story of the fellow that was on the 20th Century Limited, you know, it goes from Chicago to New York City, and he wanted to get off at Buffalo, New York. [00:24:20.582 – 00:24:28.622] Now, the train gets in Buffalo at 5:00 in the morning, so this fellow called the porter and he said, "Look here, porter." He says, "I want to get off the train at Buffalo. [00:24:28.622 – 00:24:38.642] Now, be sure and waken me and put me off the train." He said, "Don't let anything interfere with you putting me off the train at Buffalo." Well, the train went through the night, came [00:24:38.642 – 00:24:41.542] into the Grand Central Station in New York City. [00:24:41.542 – 00:24:47.422] The porter stepped off the back platform, was standing there, and who came running off the train but this fellow.

[00:24:47.422 – 00:24:57.442] And he grabbed the porter by the nap of the neck and he said, "Porter, why didn't you waken me and put me off the train at Buffalo?" He said, "You caused me to miss the most important appointment of my whole life." And he cursed and [00:24:57.442 – 00:24:58.462] he swore and he threatened. [00:24:58.462 – 00:25:00.962] And finally, he turned on his heel and ran out of the station. [00:25:00.962 – 00:25:11.142] Just then, the station master came along and he looked at the porter and he said, "Gee, did you ever see anybody so mad in all your life?" "Yeah," said the porter said. [00:25:11.142 – 00:25:31.642] "You should have seen the guy I put off at Buffalo." We [00:25:31.642 – 00:25:37.922] could eliminate anger and much more quickly if we would practice actions of kindness. [00:25:37.922 – 00:25:45.762] Go out of our way to place actions of kindness day in and day out.

[00:25:45.762 – 00:25:50.042] Moodiness, to which all of us are subject. [00:25:50.218 – 00:25:52.218] Now and again, some oftener than others. [00:25:52.218 – 00:25:54.458] Action is the magic word. [00:25:54.458 – 00:25:55.218] Do anything. [00:25:55.218 – 00:25:57.478] Run up and down the street and swing our arms. [00:25:57.478 – 00:25:59.958] They might think we're nuts, but at least it will change the mood. [00:25:59.958 – 00:26:03.357] Might bring a crowd.

[00:26:03.357 – 00:26:08.718] Indecision again. [00:26:08.718 – 00:26:10.478] Why do we have indecision? [00:26:10.478 – 00:26:12.978] Because there's no action on our problems. [00:26:12.978 – 00:26:20.718] Like the story, you've heard it before, the fellow came to AA and the sponsor got him a job, and the job was sorting tomatoes, you know? [00:26:20.718 – 00:26:22.998] 48 hours later, the fellow quit. [00:26:22.998 – 00:26:25.458] Sponsor heard about it and he called the fellow. [00:26:25.458 – 00:26:31.498] He says, "Hey, how come you quit your job?" And the fellow says, "It was too hard." He said, "What do you mean it's too hard?

[00:26:31.498 – 00:26:37.618] All you had to do is put tomatoes in one basket and then another." "Oh," he said, "it wasn't placing them that was so rough. [00:26:37.618 – 00:26:47.978] It was just making those darn decisions that got me down." Then judging [00:26:47.978 – 00:26:48.678] others. [00:26:48.678 – 00:26:55.178] You know, uh, scandal mongerers, gossipers. [00:26:55.178 – 00:26:56.378] Why? [00:26:56.378 – 00:26:59.718] Because such do not take action on themselves. [00:26:59.718 – 00:27:03.818] If we took action on ourselves, we wouldn't have time to talk about others.

[00:27:03.818 – 00:27:13.878] And you know, here is another enigma of AA, how we alcoholics, with all the mess of our past, can put ourselves in the seat [00:27:13.878 – 00:27:17.818] of judgment about somebody else is beyond comprehension. [00:27:17.818 – 00:27:19.658] And yet it goes on. [00:27:19.658 – 00:27:30.418] Like the old pagan poet Horace said many centuries ago, "Fama quae crescit eundo," gossip [00:27:30.418 – 00:27:37.438] which so grows as it goes, and how it grows and grows and grows and grows. [00:27:37.438 – 00:27:46.118] Whereas if we took action on ourselves, we wouldn't tend to talk about others, to take the other guy or the other gal's inventory. [00:27:46.118 – 00:27:50.658] Action is the magic word, action on ourselves.

[00:27:50.658 – 00:28:00.458] And then, uh, the 10th step, which means continue to take personal inventory, means to take action on our faults. [00:28:00.458 – 00:28:01.898] Do something about them. [00:28:01.898 – 00:28:03.678] No wonder we got so many left. [00:28:03.678 – 00:28:05.698] We've never done anything about any of them. [00:28:05.698 – 00:28:10.718] We're still just a goner, you know, tomorrow. [00:28:10.718 – 00:28:14.918] Procrastinators, perfectionist, dreamers. [00:28:14.918 – 00:28:17.698] Action is the magic word.

[00:28:17.698 – 00:28:19.937] Then, uh, meetings. [00:28:19.937 – 00:28:24.138] Why is it so many attend so many meetings and get so little? [00:28:24.138 – 00:28:27.538] Because we don't take action on what we hear at the meeting. [00:28:27.538 – 00:28:34.038] We talk about everything else, but not do anything about what we hear each meeting. [00:28:34.038 – 00:28:44.078] If every member of Alcoholics Anonymous would just take one action of some little part of something that's said at some meeting, [00:28:44.078 – 00:28:47.438] oh my, what would be accomplished in such a short time. [00:28:47.438 – 00:28:50.918] Action is the magic word.

[00:28:50.918 – 00:28:57.678] You know, they tell the story of the, uh, of the priest who was preaching a sermon. [00:28:57.678 – 00:28:59.518] This was many, many years ago. [00:28:59.518 – 00:29:04.218] It must have been a long time ago because the sermon was after mass on Sunday then. [00:29:04.218 – 00:29:05.998] I don't think we could have that now. [00:29:05.998 – 00:29:06.798] I think we'd all leave. [00:29:06.798 – 00:29:16.888] But but anyhow, it so happened that one Sunday morning, uh, a fellow came running up to the s- church steps, you know, and he saw everybody leaving [00:29:16.888 – 00:29:27.108] church, so he asked a little old lady who was coming down the steps, he said, "Say, madam, is the sermon over?" She said, "No, sir, it isn't." "Well," he said, "why is everybody leaving

[00:29:27.108 – 00:29:32.028] church?" And she said, "Because the priest has left the pulpit." Now he says, "Come, come. [00:29:32.028 – 00:29:33.098] What do you mean? [00:29:33.098 – 00:29:38.358] First you say the sermon is not over, and now you say the priest has left the pulpit. [00:29:38.358 – 00:29:43.298] What do you mean?" "Well," she said, "indeed, sir, the sermon is not over. [00:29:43.298 – 00:29:45.138] The priest has left the pulpit. [00:29:45.138 – 00:29:54.318] But the sermon now begins when we take action on the sermon in our daily lives." Action is the magic word. [00:29:54.318 – 00:29:55.937] Then laziness.

[00:29:55.937 – 00:30:03.458] You know, contrary to popular opinion, the average alcoholic is lazy by nature, and very lazy. [00:30:03.458 – 00:30:06.758] We all had a lot of activity in our lives. [00:30:06.758 – 00:30:11.338] You know, activity is not action. [00:30:11.338 – 00:30:18.258] Action is purposeful activity. [00:30:18.258 – 00:30:27.698] And so the remedy of laziness is action with a purpose, day in and day out. [00:30:27.698 – 00:30:30.598] Action is the magic word. [00:30:30.598 – 00:30:40.998] And then when it comes to God, many alcoholics still have difficulty in, uh, acquiring

[00:30:40.998 – 00:30:49.378] and keeping a lively faith in Almighty God because they don't take action on the faith that God has already given them. [00:30:49.378 – 00:31:00.018] That's the reason the 11th step says, "Sought, through prayer and meditation," that means day in and day out, to improve our conscious contact [00:31:00.253 – 00:31:02.113] with God as we understood Him. [00:31:02.113 – 00:31:05.413] That means day in and day out. [00:31:05.413 – 00:31:09.253] Action is the magic word. [00:31:09.253 – 00:31:19.393] Now, I'm going to try to answer what I think is the most asked question in Alcoholics Anonymous today, and that [00:31:19.393 – 00:31:23.613] is something like this: "What's the matter with me?

[00:31:23.613 – 00:31:30.493] I've been in AA five years, 10 years, six months," whatever it may be, "and there's something wrong. [00:31:30.493 – 00:31:36.033] I used to have peace of mind, but I'm jittery, I'm restless, I'm nervous. [00:31:36.033 – 00:31:46.173] What's the matter with me?" Well, I think the difference is, or the trouble is, that little difference that lies between [00:31:46.173 – 00:31:52.573] the fellow or the gal who's merely dry and the one who is not only dry, but also happy. [00:31:52.573 – 00:32:00.553] The same as the difference between the man or the woman who's not only sober, but who is also sober and serene. [00:32:00.553 – 00:32:08.593] It's the difference between the one who is on the program and the one who's merely around the program. [00:32:08.593 – 00:32:18.693] To me, I, I call it the magic action, and I think it's the taking of the third step once and for all, without ifs, ands,

[00:32:18.693 – 00:32:20.793] buts, or what have you. [00:32:20.793 – 00:32:29.773] Once and for all, that little action, the magic action of the third step, because it's the one that flows into all the rest. [00:32:29.773 – 00:32:39.973] We have made a decision, that's action, with no reservations, to turn our will and our life, more action, [00:32:39.973 – 00:32:45.593] over to God so that He in turn can take action on us. [00:32:45.593 – 00:32:50.413] That's the secret of happiness and serenity in AA. [00:32:50.413 – 00:32:54.573] Now, I, I think most of us would like to do that, but then we become afraid. [00:32:54.573 – 00:33:04.773] "Yeah, I know if, if I do this, then what will, what will God, you know…" It's like the character in The Hound of Heaven, fearful, lest having found Him, they have nothing

[00:33:04.773 – 00:33:06.253] else besides. [00:33:06.253 – 00:33:13.373] It's like the little old lady on shipboard, and the ship was wrecked at sea, and she came running to the captain. [00:33:13.373 – 00:33:32.073] She says, "Captain, are we in, uh, any great danger?" And the captain says, "Well, after all, madam, we're in the hands of God." "Oh," she says, "it's as bad as all that." As [00:33:32.073 – 00:33:33.833] good as all that. [00:33:33.833 – 00:33:36.013] Action. [00:33:36.013 – 00:33:46.053] Made a decision, action, with no reservations, no ifs, no ands, no buts, to turn our will, all [00:33:46.053 – 00:33:56.153] of it, with no reservations, and our life, all of it, with no reservation, over to the care of God as we understood Him, so that He in

[00:33:56.153 – 00:33:58.353] turn can take action on us. [00:33:58.353 – 00:34:07.633] Now, if we're not ready, if we're not willing, the Big A, A book tells us, it suggests, let's pray and ask God to make us willing. [00:34:07.633 – 00:34:09.133] Make me willing. [00:34:09.133 – 00:34:12.713] God grant us the serenity. [00:34:12.713 – 00:34:13.933] Remember the AA prayer? [00:34:13.933 – 00:34:24.673] To accept the things we cannot change, and the courage to change the things we can, that's action, and the wisdom [00:34:24.673 – 00:34:25.733] to know the difference.

[00:34:25.733 – 00:34:35.873] And I'm going to give you a little of the wisdom to know the difference, and that is this: that most of the things that we can't change lie outside of ourselves, [00:34:35.873 – 00:34:41.353] and most of the things that we can change are inside of us. [00:34:41.353 – 00:34:48.893] God grant us the serenity, give us the courage and the wisdom. [00:34:48.893 – 00:34:59.393] And if we do that day in and day out, with even a modicum of honesty, I am positive that eventually [00:34:59.393 – 00:35:01.813] that prayer will find its answer. [00:35:01.813 – 00:35:11.953] And you and I who are sitting here tonight can then have a well-founded hope that we'll be together again in eternity, [00:35:11.953 – 00:35:21.993] thanking God, thanking God that He's given us 12 little steps, 12 little actions, which

[00:35:21.993 – 00:35:32.033] led us to a love of Him and an understanding of ourselves and our fellow man here below, and a union [00:35:32.033 – 00:35:35.333] with Him and them for all eternity. [00:35:35.333 – 00:35:39.313] Peace and serenity forever. [00:35:39.313 – 00:35:41.053] May God love you all. [00:35:41.053 – 00:35:57.413] It [00:35:57.413 – 00:36:03.793] was only a few years ago that the topic of alcoholism was virtually taboo in polite conversation. [00:36:03.793 – 00:36:09.533] Although its ravages upon physical, mental, and moral fiber were well known

[00:36:10.288 – 00:36:13.148] Virtually nothing was said about it at the public level. [00:36:13.148 – 00:36:19.758] Even the suffering alcoholic was convinced that he lacked courage and strength of character. [00:36:19.758 – 00:36:29.768] The stigma that had been attached to the disease through the ages was perhaps largely responsible for the fact that the only campaign directed against it was waged [00:36:29.768 – 00:36:32.788] by well-intentioned but inept reformers. [00:36:32.788 – 00:36:40.608] With the advent of Alcoholics Anonymous, the first light was thrown on a subject that had been left in deplorable darkness. [00:36:40.608 – 00:36:51.048] A mere handful of courageous victims, aided by a few medical men and clergymen, discovered that any effective treatment of a disease which was threefold [00:36:51.048 – 00:37:00.368] in nature would have to be threefold in action, providing physical, mental, and spiritual help simultaneously.

[00:37:00.368 – 00:37:10.548] Although Alcoholics Anonymous does not publicize the names of its members, it has had its astonishing growth largely because from the beginning, [00:37:10.548 – 00:37:19.648] men and women who found sobriety through its program were selfless and humble in passing the word along to those who still suffered from alcoholism. [00:37:19.648 – 00:37:29.808] Father John Doe's story has been an inspiration to thousands, not only because he was the first Catholic priest to join AA, but [00:37:29.808 – 00:37:39.928] because he has the gift of pinpointing the emotions and frustrations of the alcoholic and other victims, regardless of age, sex, or background, [00:37:39.928 – 00:37:44.508] and to help them recognize the symptoms of the disease in themselves. [00:37:44.508 – 00:37:54.908] While there is nothing more tragic than the disintegration of the human being, there is no message that carries more hope than the story of human rehabilitation. [00:37:54.908 – 00:38:04.938] Thus it is that whenever a member of Alcoholics Anonymous speaks at an AA meeting, it is practically a universal custom that he first identify

[00:38:04.938 – 00:38:06.488] himself as an alcoholic. [00:38:06.488 – 00:38:14.568] In doing this, he usually retells certain incidents of his past living which indicate that he is an alcoholic. [00:38:14.568 – 00:38:20.747] Contrary to common opinion, this is in no way a public confession. [00:38:20.747 – 00:38:29.788] It is done for four very definite reasons which experience has taught to be of great value in the maintaining of sobriety in the alcoholic. [00:38:29.788 – 00:38:39.368] The first reason is so the listeners may know that the speaker is an alcoholic and therefore qualified to speak at an AA meeting. [00:38:39.368 – 00:38:49.368] Hence, the qualification may be as short as simply saying, "I am an alcoholic," or it may be as detailed as the individual himself may [00:38:49.368 – 00:38:49.968] choose.

[00:38:49.968 – 00:38:59.208] The second reason is to offer an opportunity for the alcoholic to achieve a sense of humor towards his past drinking escapades. [00:38:59.208 – 00:39:09.208] Fulton Oursler, the well-known writer and newspaper columnist, although he himself was not an alcoholic, points out why this is so [00:39:09.208 – 00:39:14.928] in the following words, quote, "The alcoholic must have a sense of humor. [00:39:14.928 – 00:39:24.128] It is only thus that he will be able to reach that godlike state wherein he can laugh at himself, which is the very height of self-conquest. [00:39:24.128 – 00:39:27.388] Go to meetings and listen to their laughter. [00:39:27.388 – 00:39:30.128] At what are they laughing? [00:39:30.128 – 00:39:36.128] At the horrible memories over which weaker souls would cringe in useless remorse." Unquote.

[00:39:36.128 – 00:39:47.048] The third reason is to help some in the audience who may be looking for the exact pattern that the speaker has to solve their own problems and to encourage particularly [00:39:47.048 – 00:39:49.788] the newcomers in their striving for sobriety. [00:39:49.788 – 00:39:55.588] The final reason, which is perhaps the most important, is to help himself. [00:39:55.588 – 00:40:05.708] Particularly is it necessary in the repeating of one's story to deepen ever more and more the conviction which he dare not ever lose, namely [00:40:05.708 – 00:40:08.948] that he is and will always remain an alcoholic. [00:40:08.948 – 00:40:12.948] The following is the qualification of Father John Doe. [00:40:12.948 – 00:40:17.708] It has been given to AA groups throughout the United States and Canada.

[00:40:17.708 – 00:40:23.628] We have knowledge of thousands of individuals who have been greatly helped by hearing this story. [00:40:23.628 – 00:40:28.448] Their letters of appreciation and their comments are too numerous to mention. [00:40:28.448 – 00:40:38.448] We now bring to you on record this same story with the fond hope that many, many thousands more may be helped in their struggle to obtain and maintain [00:40:38.448 – 00:40:42.588] sobriety and to understand alcoholism and the alcoholic. [00:40:42.588 – 00:40:46.888] We give you Father John Doe, the alcoholic. [00:40:46.888 – 00:40:55.208] Now, I am a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Indiana. [00:40:55.208 – 00:41:03.248] I am a member of the Indianapolis group of Alcoholics Anonymous, and I am an alcoholic.

[00:41:03.248 – 00:41:13.368] I was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1929, and I believe that at that time I was as sincere in my [00:41:13.368 – 00:41:16.608] vocation as any priest that was ever ordained. [00:41:16.608 – 00:41:20.128] However, in the back of my mind at that time was a ve- [00:41:20.287 – 00:41:26.338] a definite fear, and that fear was that I might become an alcoholic. [00:41:26.338 – 00:41:30.638] And the reason for that fear was that my dad had been an alcoholic. [00:41:30.638 – 00:41:33.358] I had not known him very well in life. [00:41:33.358 – 00:41:36.998] He died when I was only four and a half years old.

[00:41:36.998 – 00:41:46.048] But I'd heard the family talk, and I was raised with the conviction that the worst possible person in the world was an alcoholic, and I didn't want to be one. [00:41:46.048 – 00:41:50.318] So on the occasion of my ordination, I made a decision. [00:41:50.318 – 00:41:56.858] I made a decision that I would not partake of intoxicating beverages for a period of one year. [00:41:56.858 – 00:42:00.457] Now, why I only said one year, I'll never know. [00:42:00.457 – 00:42:07.198] I suppose it was the beginning of my rationalizing mind that always liked to keep a door open for future reference. [00:42:07.198 – 00:42:09.538] But anyhow, I made such a decision. [00:42:09.538 – 00:42:19.738] Well, now it so happened after the first year in the priesthood that the Bishop of Indianapolis sent me to New York City to post-graduate in the School of Education at Fordham

[00:42:19.738 – 00:42:20.358] University. [00:42:20.358 – 00:42:30.568] That was during the last days of prohibition, and if any of you happen to have been in New York at that time, you would remember that every few days [00:42:30.568 – 00:42:40.658] someone deposited a little pamphlet upon your doorstep, and in that little pamphlet were listed all the various types of liquors and liqueurs and rums and wines and champagnes and what have you. [00:42:40.658 – 00:42:44.338] Call such and such a number, we deliver within one hour, which they did. [00:42:44.338 – 00:42:50.078] Everybody drank in New York at that time, both socially and anti-socially. [00:42:50.078 – 00:42:59.757] And so I rationalized to myself, I thought, well, now this is a wonderful opportunity for me to find out whether I am an alcoholic. [00:42:59.757 – 00:43:03.658] So on occasion, I accepted my first highball.

[00:43:03.658 – 00:43:14.158] Oh, it didn't seem to affect me in any untoward manner at the time, but you know, I can look back now, having had the opportunity to analyze the circumstances [00:43:14.158 – 00:43:24.158] much more clearly in these past few years, and I can see from that very first partaking of alcoholic beverages to any extent that there were very definite and very [00:43:24.158 – 00:43:34.218] positive, although very slight, very definite and very positive changes in my attitudes, in my attitude toward God, toward my fellow man, [00:43:34.218 – 00:43:36.318] toward my neighbor, toward myself. [00:43:36.318 – 00:43:39.478] I think my case was very average. [00:43:39.478 – 00:43:47.018] There was no evidence of increase in the beginning, and I came back to Indiana, and I was appointed to teach in high school. [00:43:47.018 – 00:43:55.338] Now, that was still during the days of prohibition, and in Indiana, we didn't have little pamphlets coming up to the doorsteps every few days.

[00:43:55.338 – 00:44:05.388] We had to drive down to a little town in the southern part of the state, Jasper, and buy it at $5 a gallon, and then go to Sears and Roebuck and get a Chard cake for $2.98, put that on your radiator [00:44:05.388 – 00:44:06.718] for 90 days, and you had pretty good liquor. [00:44:06.718 – 00:44:10.858] If you couldn't wait 90, 60 didn't do too bad a job. [00:44:10.858 – 00:44:21.038] Well, it seems after a few years that the bishop found out that I was drinking much too much for my own good, and he asked me to go to a sanitarium in [00:44:21.038 – 00:44:21.118] St. [00:44:21.118 – 00:44:22.178] Louis, Missouri. [00:44:22.178 – 00:44:28.538] Well, I went to this sanitarium, and there I had my first experience with a psychiatrist.

[00:44:28.538 – 00:44:32.698] Now, I do not want to decry psychiatry nor psychiatrist. [00:44:32.698 – 00:44:38.498] I very definitely feel that we have a great need for good psychiatrists in this world. [00:44:38.498 – 00:44:42.238] But anyhow, this individual, he happened to be a very pompous gentleman. [00:44:42.238 – 00:44:45.698] I've always been afraid of running into him in some of the groups along the way. [00:44:45.698 – 00:44:55.718] And he had me to sit down, and he asked me a lot of questions, and I gave him a lot of answers, some [00:44:55.718 – 00:44:56.978] true, mostly false. [00:44:56.978 – 00:45:01.638] And then the question, "Father, how much do you drink?" And my answer, "Not much at all.

[00:45:01.638 – 00:45:08.018] Beer once in a while, but it doesn't bother me." Well, he didn't know what to make of that. [00:45:08.018 – 00:45:09.578] He leaned back and he scratched his head. [00:45:09.578 – 00:45:14.577] He said, "Well, I don't know, Father." He said, "You've told me a lot of other things here now for several hours. [00:45:14.577 – 00:45:21.118] Now you say you don't drink." He said, "I believe you're a hopeless neurotic." He said, "What's your bishop's name? [00:45:21.118 – 00:45:26.678] I'll call him and tell him so." Well, that frightened me, and I got to the phone before he did. [00:45:26.678 – 00:45:32.158] And I called the bishop and called him long distance and told him I was feeling fine again. [00:45:32.158 – 00:45:33.178] I'm gonna go right back to work.

[00:45:33.178 – 00:45:43.038] Well, he in his very fatherly way told me to take the train back to New York City to reenter Fordham and to remain there for a master's degree. [00:45:43.038 – 00:45:47.718] I went back to New York, and for a period of 10 months, I did not drink. [00:45:47.718 – 00:45:49.218] I was afraid to. [00:45:49.218 – 00:45:54.958] However, at the end of 10 months, uh, the first week in April, I received my master's degree. [00:45:54.958 – 00:45:58.098] In the second week, someone offered me a drink on occasion, and I took it. [00:45:58.098 – 00:46:01.058] Again, the increase was not noticeable. [00:46:01.058 – 00:46:03.258] I came back again to Indiana.

[00:46:03.258 – 00:46:11.458] I was appointed as assistant pastor in several parishes, and then I received my first appointment as pastor. [00:46:11.458 – 00:46:20.437] I was appointed as pastor of the Little Crossroads Church of Snake Run, Indiana, which they did. [00:46:20.437 – 00:46:29.248] As a matter of fact, I was only pastor there for about 16 months [00:46:30.333 – 00:46:36.773] And the bishop found out that I was drinking much too much for my own good or anybody else's as far as that goes, and he sent me a letter. [00:46:36.773 – 00:46:47.293] And it wasn't too nice a letter either, because in this letter, he told me that he was hereby relieving me of my pastoral appointment and directing that I should return to Indianapolis [00:46:47.293 – 00:46:48.933] to be assistant pastor again. [00:46:48.933 – 00:46:54.372] Of course, he gave as the reason that he wanted be to, me to be near him, but I never did believe that one.

[00:46:54.372 – 00:47:01.353] And he also, in this letter, asked me first to go to Sacred Heart Sanitarium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [00:47:01.353 – 00:47:10.433] Well, I went to this sanitarium, and there again, I met a psychiatrist, and he again asked me a lot of questions, and I again gave him a lot of answers, mostly not true. [00:47:10.433 – 00:47:20.653] Then the inevitable question, "Father, how much do you drink?" And the inevitable alcoholic answer, "Not much at all." "Beer once in a while, but it doesn't bother [00:47:20.653 – 00:47:29.403] me." "Sometimes two beers." Well, you know, that always seemed to stump him. [00:47:29.403 – 00:47:31.673] Because he leaned back, too, and scratched his head. [00:47:31.673 – 00:47:41.693] He said, "Well, I don't know, Father." He said, "From all the things that you've told me, we've been sitting here discussing your problems for, uh, several hours," and he said, "Now you say you don't drink." He said, "I believe you're a [00:47:41.693 – 00:47:45.573] manic depressive." Well, I didn't know what that meant at the time.

[00:47:45.573 – 00:47:49.793] I remember when I got to my room, I looked it up in the dictionary- … [00:47:49.793 – 00:47:50.873] and I closed it in a hurry. [00:47:50.873 – 00:47:57.533] Because it means, well, it means you're a, a little bit crazy. [00:47:57.533 – 00:48:05.573] But I stayed at this sanitarium for a period of seven weeks, and then I became restless to go home, and I told the doctor so. [00:48:05.573 – 00:48:15.753] And I said, "Furthermore, Doctor, I can go home, and I can do at home everything that I'm doing here." Well, he gave me an answer, [00:48:15.753 – 00:48:25.893] which at the time didn't mean very much, but again, since I have had opportunity to analyze his answer much more clearly in these past few years, I can see the wisdom of his answer. [00:48:25.893 – 00:48:32.873] And his answer was, "Father, you can, but you won't," which I didn't.

[00:48:32.873 – 00:48:42.713] I did go back to Indianapolis, but I set about immediately to convince the bishop that he was wrong, that he had made a mistake, that he had misjudged me. [00:48:42.713 – 00:48:47.793] I used every opportunity to bring this to his attention, only as an alcoholic can. [00:48:47.793 – 00:48:50.493] For 10 months, again, I did not drink. [00:48:50.493 – 00:48:51.953] I was afraid to. [00:48:51.953 – 00:49:00.843] Uh, you know, it seems that fear lasted about 10 months in the upper parts of my consciousness, and then fear left, and so did sobriety. [00:49:00.843 – 00:49:05.463] So at the end of 10 months, someone offered me a drink on occasion, and I took it. [00:49:05.463 – 00:49:12.033] This time, the increase was very rapid, and right in the middle of it, I get another letter from the bishop.

[00:49:12.033 – 00:49:14.103] Oh, this was a nice letter. [00:49:14.103 – 00:49:18.173] In this letter, he told me that he had been convinced that he had made a mistake. [00:49:18.173 – 00:49:27.993] He felt he had misjudged me, and so in order to make up for it, he was hereby appointing me as pastor of a city parish in Indianapolis. [00:49:27.993 – 00:49:34.193] Well, of course, I was very much elated by that so-called victory, and that wasn't good at all. [00:49:34.193 – 00:49:44.233] I remember the appointment took effect at the beginning of Lent, and I suppose as sort of a subconscious struggle for a bit of honesty, I made up my mind that I wouldn't drink [00:49:44.233 – 00:49:46.193] anymore, uh, during Lent. [00:49:46.193 – 00:49:50.213] I got by 10 days.

[00:49:50.213 – 00:49:53.733] In fact, I never got by any longer after that. [00:49:53.733 – 00:50:03.813] As a matter of fact, I was only pastor at this parish for 12 months, when Bishop found out beyond any shadow of a doubt that he had been right in the first place. [00:50:03.813 – 00:50:08.433] And then he sent me a letter that was a honey. [00:50:08.433 – 00:50:15.053] And in this letter, he told me to go to a sanitarium in the northern wilds of Wisconsin until further notice. [00:50:15.053 – 00:50:23.153] Now, that might have meant six months, six years, or a life for all I knew. [00:50:23.153 – 00:50:27.353] But I, as a priest, and he as my superior and bishop, I had to go. [00:50:27.353 – 00:50:35.453] But you know, I had a very close friend to take with me, a friend of long years' standing, and that was my rationalizing mind.

[00:50:35.453 – 00:50:36.773] We sat down. [00:50:36.773 – 00:50:37.813] We figured it all out. [00:50:37.813 – 00:50:39.713] Thought, well, I have a car. [00:50:39.713 – 00:50:43.693] I can drive up there, and every day I can drive around the countryside and relax. [00:50:43.693 – 00:50:47.093] I called a personal friend of mine in Indianapolis and ordered a case of liquor. [00:50:47.093 – 00:50:51.353] I remember it fitted in my Gladstone bag perfectly, six on each side. [00:50:51.353 – 00:50:55.133] Of course, you had to take out some clothes, but that wasn't too important.

[00:50:55.133 – 00:50:58.963] So I rationalized to myself. [00:50:58.963 – 00:51:02.453] I thought, well, now I'll have a nice long rest and relaxation out of this. [00:51:02.453 – 00:51:03.813] That's been my trouble. [00:51:03.813 – 00:51:05.313] I've been working too hard. [00:51:05.313 – 00:51:10.573] So off I set to the sanitarium. [00:51:10.573 – 00:51:14.793] Well, when I got there, I found out they didn't allow those things there. [00:51:14.793 – 00:51:25.393] As a matter of fact, uh, the bishop had sent word that I should dispose of my car immediately and that I should never again in the future drive

[00:51:25.393 – 00:51:27.913] nor own a car without his written permission. [00:51:27.913 – 00:51:37.113] Well, of course, everything being taken away from me so suddenly, you know, I was a bit upset and nervous and jittery and sick, and I called for a doctor, and I got a psychiatrist. [00:51:37.113 – 00:51:40.213] And he asked me a lot of questions. [00:51:40.368 – 00:51:47.008] Too, and then, "Father, how much do you drink?" I said, "Why, doctor, I haven't had a drink since I've been here," 48 hours. [00:51:47.008 – 00:51:49.688] Well, he didn't know what to make of it either. [00:51:49.688 – 00:51:59.768] He scratched his head and he says, "Well, I don't know, Father." He said, "Now, uh, all the other problems we've been discussing between us here, and you say you don't drink." He said, "I believe you're a [00:51:59.768 – 00:52:08.648] schizophrenic." And he said, "I think the shock treatments will help you." Well, I didn't know what either the shock treatments or schizophrenia was.

[00:52:08.648 – 00:52:14.508] I thought the shock treatments were some kind of massages, you know, to relax one. [00:52:14.508 – 00:52:20.848] Well, anyhow, the next afternoon a limousine came up to the sanitarium and called for me by name. [00:52:20.848 – 00:52:30.728] And I got into the limousine, and we drove out into the country, and as we were driving along, I was admiring the beautiful architecture of the various estates as we passed them. [00:52:30.728 – 00:52:40.808] However, soon we came to a very large estate, and as I was admiring the buildings, we came to the front entrance, and there over [00:52:40.808 – 00:52:48.268] the gate was inscribed in letters of iron, "The Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane," and in we went. [00:52:48.268 – 00:52:58.068] Well, I thought, "This is the end of the road." But I was there, so I took the shock treatments, eight of them. [00:52:58.068 – 00:53:04.908] Oh, they might have quieted my mental upset a bit, I suppose, and my nerves somewhat, I don't know, but they had no effect on my alcoholic problem.

[00:53:04.908 – 00:53:15.018] In fact, I was at this sanitarium for 11 months, and certainly during that time I had readjusted again to fidelity to prayer and meditation, and the various [00:53:15.018 – 00:53:17.588] other obligations that we have as priests. [00:53:17.588 – 00:53:24.348] So when the bishop sent word that I should report to his office in Indianapolis, I again was very much elated, and that wasn't good. [00:53:24.348 – 00:53:27.128] Uh, I don't know what I expected. [00:53:27.128 – 00:53:31.788] Perhaps I thought he was going to give me a nice big parish for having been up there 11 months. [00:53:31.788 – 00:53:32.248] I don't know. [00:53:32.248 – 00:53:40.008] But, uh, I do remember that I came back to Indianapolis in a very expectant frame of mind, and that was not good.

[00:53:40.008 – 00:53:45.008] And I went to his office, and I sat down, and he began. [00:53:45.008 – 00:53:49.248] He said, "Well, Ralph," he always called me by my first name. [00:53:49.248 – 00:53:50.968] We used to be good friends in the old days. [00:53:50.968 – 00:54:01.448] He said, "I'll give you another chance." He said, "You can go up to such and such a parish and live there for a while." He said, "I don't know whether the pastor will take you or not." He said, "I haven't talked to him as yet." [00:54:01.448 – 00:54:11.548] But he says, "Anyhow," he said, "I don't think there's a chance in the world for you." He says, "I am convinced you're absolutely hopeless." Well, there I sat, a hopeless, [00:54:11.548 – 00:54:20.068] neurotic, manic depressive schizophrenic with the bottom of the world dropped out from under me. [00:54:20.068 – 00:54:30.228] Many of you know what that meant, an influx again of fears, and phobias, and f- and resentments, and self-pity, and all those things that an alcoholic, and only

[00:54:30.228 – 00:54:33.148] an alcoholic, can know so deeply and so well. [00:54:33.148 – 00:54:39.268] They had never been eliminated from my personality in the past, and now they came to the front in all their vengeance. [00:54:39.268 – 00:54:44.108] Uh, I was a very much frightened individual when I went to this rectory. [00:54:44.108 – 00:54:46.088] I was very much dejected. [00:54:46.088 – 00:54:48.148] I was afraid to leave the house. [00:54:48.148 – 00:54:58.388] I thought everyone would be pointing their finger of scorn at me, because after all, I had been pastor of a parish next door just 11 [00:54:58.388 – 00:55:00.208] months before.

[00:55:00.208 – 00:55:10.308] However, in spite of all these circumstances, just seven days after I had returned to Indianapolis from this sanitarium, a friend of mine came [00:55:10.308 – 00:55:14.848] to town, called me on the phone, and wanted to know if I'd like to take a ride. [00:55:14.848 – 00:55:16.608] He knew I didn't have a car. [00:55:16.608 – 00:55:19.008] Those things get around, you know. [00:55:19.008 – 00:55:29.108] So I said I would, and he came by the rectory, and I got into the car, and he said, "How about a little drink?" Well, I thought, "One little drink won't hurt me." [00:55:29.108 – 00:55:32.188] So I took a drink. [00:55:32.188 – 00:55:41.688] Well, I don't believe I shall ever forget, and I pray God each day that he shall never let me forget that night, and especially the next day.

[00:55:41.688 – 00:55:47.868] I don't remember where, when, or how the night ended, but I do very vividly recall the next day. [00:55:47.868 – 00:55:55.068] I had to be on the job, and I think I took every pill that I could find in the rectory, even all the other good fathers', to get by. [00:55:55.068 – 00:55:58.728] I was a very much frightened individual. [00:55:58.728 – 00:56:08.768] I, uh, believe then it was for the first time that it slowly began to dawn on my conscious thinking [00:56:08.768 – 00:56:18.868] that maybe, just maybe, alcohol was my primary problem, and therefore would have first to be solved before all [00:56:18.868 – 00:56:26.447] these other real and imaginary problems, which I had always considered much more important, and which I had always thought would have first to be solved. [00:56:26.447 – 00:56:28.668] As I said, I was frightened.

[00:56:28.668 – 00:56:29.648] I was nervous. [00:56:29.648 – 00:56:30.908] I was jittery. [00:56:30.908 – 00:56:31.788] I was sleepless. [00:56:31.788 – 00:56:35.188] Two weeks later, 2:00 in the morning, the phone rang. [00:56:35.188 – 00:56:37.108] Being awake, I answered it. [00:56:37.108 – 00:56:38.088] It was a sick call. [00:56:38.088 – 00:56:41.848] I went on the sick call, and I found the man in his bedroom on the floor.

[00:56:41.848 – 00:56:50.257] I thought he was dead, and I hurriedly prepared to give him the last sacraments, as we do in our religion, just as the doctor stooped over and gave him a shot in the arm, and he said… [00:56:50.398 – 00:56:51.318] up as live as you and I. [00:56:51.318 – 00:57:01.398] And the doctor sort of slyly looked over at me and he said, "Too much liquor and barbiturates." And I thought, "The poor fellow." I remember I told his wife, I said, "Well, I can't be a lot [00:57:01.398 – 00:57:02.738] of help tonight as a priest. [00:57:02.738 – 00:57:09.398] I'll come back later tomorrow when he's feeling better and talk to him." So the next afternoon, I went back to see him. [00:57:09.398 – 00:57:18.978] And as I was waiting for him to come downstairs, I happened to look on the mantelpiece, and there was the book Alcoholics Anonymous. [00:57:18.978 – 00:57:29.018] Well, naturally, being interested in anything with an alcoholic label, I, I took

[00:57:29.018 – 00:57:31.078] the book down and I started to thumb through it. [00:57:31.078 – 00:57:41.718] And as he came downstairs, I said, "Say, what is this Alcoholics Anonymous?" "Oh," he said, "that's a wonderful thing for those who need it." But [00:57:41.718 – 00:57:43.238] he said, "I'm a social drinker. [00:57:43.238 – 00:57:50.418] I don't need that." "Well," I said, "may I take the book home and read it?" He said, "Sure," he was glad to get rid of it. [00:57:50.418 – 00:57:53.238] I think his wife had bought it for him. [00:57:53.238 – 00:57:56.337] Well, I, I, I took the book home and I read it. [00:57:56.337 – 00:58:00.198] Oh, immediately I could see a lot of people whom AA would help.

[00:58:00.198 – 00:58:04.538] As a matter of fact, I thought right away of several of my relatives who should get into AA. [00:58:04.538 – 00:58:07.998] But it was not for me, so I put the book aside. [00:58:07.998 – 00:58:11.178] The next day, though, curiosity got the better of me. [00:58:11.178 – 00:58:13.098] I picked up the book and I read it again. [00:58:13.098 – 00:58:22.838] That went on for three or four weeks, and during those three or four weeks, I read that book from cover to cover at least 15 or 20 times. [00:58:22.838 – 00:58:25.858] I couldn't get away from it, and I couldn't stay with it. [00:58:25.858 – 00:58:33.158] As I said, I could see a lot of people whom AA would help, but it was not for me because after all, I was a Catholic priest.

[00:58:33.158 – 00:58:43.158] Now, it so happened that the founder of AA in Indiana happened to have been a member of the parish where I was living, and he came [00:58:43.158 – 00:58:47.478] to the rectory with some pamphlets about AA to acquaint the priest with the movement. [00:58:47.478 – 00:58:57.498] I was interested, and I asked the pastor, I said, "Say, who brought this literature?" "Oh," he said, "that was brought by, uh, one of our parishioners, he's very high type individual," he [00:58:57.498 – 00:59:07.518] said, "a very fine character." He says, "I think he's some big shot in Alcoholics Anonymous." He said, "I think he's president or somebody." He didn't know much [00:59:07.518 – 00:59:08.738] more about it than I did. [00:59:08.738 – 00:59:18.758] But I did put that fact into the middle of my revolving brain that was going around at that time at such a terrific pace, with all its facts, fancies, [00:59:18.758 – 00:59:20.058] foibles, and phobias.

[00:59:20.058 – 00:59:29.918] And finally, in sheer desperation, 12 years ago last November, I picked up the phone and I called this gentleman who had brought the literature to the rectory. [00:59:29.918 – 00:59:36.238] Well, uh, he only lived a couple of blocks up the street, and I told him on the phone, I said, "You don't know who I am. [00:59:36.238 – 00:59:37.918] I'm one of the priests down at the rectory. [00:59:37.918 – 00:59:49.518] Uh, but I'm wondering now if sometime, and I've no hurry about this at all, maybe you could give me a little of your time to talk to you." He said, "I'll be right down." I [00:59:49.518 – 00:59:50.958] think he knew more than I thought he did. [00:59:50.958 – 00:59:57.058] Well, he got there rather quickly, and getting there so quickly, he caught me unprepared. [00:59:57.058 – 01:00:00.098] So I told him about that much of my story.

[01:00:00.098 – 01:00:10.318] Well, he leaned back in his own inimitable way and he said, "Well, Father," he said, "I'd suggest you go to a meeting." He said, "You'll learn more [01:00:10.318 – 01:00:17.678] from one meeting than you will from me talking to you for days." And I said, "You mean I should go to a meeting?" Now, I said, "Remember, I'm a priest. [01:00:17.678 – 01:00:26.157] And if I go to one of these meetings, what will people think to see a Catholic priest walk in to meet him a bunch of drunks?" Well, he sort of took a potshot at my ego by replying. [01:00:26.157 – 01:00:34.938] He says, "Well, Father, I don't think they'll think much at all." He said, "Matter of fact, I think they'll have enough of things of their own to think about thinking much about you." Well, he had me there. [01:00:34.938 – 01:00:37.778] My vanity wouldn't let me say no. [01:00:37.778 – 01:00:45.518] So I had to say, "Yes, I'll go." But inside I thought, "Well, now, I'll go as an interested spectator, and who knows? [01:00:45.518 – 01:00:55.638] Someday I might be able to help these poor devils out." Well, uh, come meeting night, after I had decided

[01:00:55.638 – 01:01:01.238] not to go at least a dozen or two times, several of the members came by the rectory and I went to the meeting. [01:01:01.238 – 01:01:11.658] Well, again, it seems that divine providence had other, uh, designs over and above and beyond my own will, because I had hardly sat down in the meeting [01:01:11.658 – 01:01:23.298] when this gentleman stood up and he said, "Gentlemen," we didn't have any ladies in those days either, he said, "I want to introduce a new member." And [01:01:23.298 – 01:01:24.718] so I was hooked. [01:01:24.718 – 01:01:31.198] And I wasn't very happy about it, either. [01:01:31.198 – 01:01:34.558] But then I was afraid to quit. [01:01:34.558 – 01:01:37.398] I thought, "Well, they know it now.

[01:01:37.398 – 01:01:47.418] What will they think if I don't go back?" But fortunately, the first year I stayed dry and I kept [01:01:47.418 – 01:01:48.528] going to the meetings. [01:01:48.528 – 01:01:51.638] And as we say in AA, you don't learn AA. [01:01:51.638 – 01:01:54.858] AA is not a teaching organization. [01:01:54.858 – 01:01:59.988] We say if you stay around AA long enough dry, AA [01:02:00.593 – 01:02:04.233] will get you, and you in turn will get AA. [01:02:04.233 – 01:02:14.273] And so as the days lengthened into months, and the months into a little over the first year, things began to make sense to me, and the darkness of

[01:02:14.273 – 01:02:24.483] alcoholism began to give way to the brightness of the peace of mind and serenity that so many know today as members of Alcoholics [01:02:24.483 – 01:02:25.193] Anonymous. [01:02:25.193 – 01:02:31.273] Life took on new meaning, and life took on, uh, real motivation. [01:02:31.273 – 01:02:41.373] And tonight, a little over 12 years later, the present Archbishop of Indianapolis not only permits me to own and drive a car, but [01:02:41.373 – 01:02:45.133] permits me to drive all the way a- across the country alone with it. [01:02:45.133 – 01:02:55.653] Now I'm going to try to answer at this point a question which I feel is uppermost in many of your minds, [01:02:55.653 – 01:02:59.333] particularly in the minds of our good non-alcoholic friends.

[01:02:59.333 – 01:03:06.673] And that question is, what did I, as a Catholic priest, get from Alcoholics Anonymous? [01:03:06.673 – 01:03:17.273] Particularly since the 12 steps of AA are a spiritual way of living, what was there for me, a priest, who had already spent a lifetime [01:03:17.273 – 01:03:19.913] in the study of the spiritual life? [01:03:19.913 – 01:03:22.713] Well, I got a lot from Alcoholics Anonymous. [01:03:22.713 – 01:03:28.533] I was led to admit once and for all that I am an alcoholic. [01:03:28.533 – 01:03:38.613] Not that I was an alcoholic, not that I am an ex-alcoholic, but I am an alcoholic and therefore will remain an alcoholic until the day [01:03:38.613 – 01:03:48.613] I die, which means that even though I be dry 10, 20, 30, 40 years and take one drink, I cannot

[01:03:48.613 – 01:03:49.853] guarantee my sobriety. [01:03:49.853 – 01:03:54.313] That's what makes me different from the so-called normal individual. [01:03:54.313 – 01:03:55.673] Although you know something? [01:03:55.673 – 01:04:00.413] Uh, we in AA sometimes wonder who's whom in this normalcy business. [01:04:00.413 – 01:04:09.893] I also learned that outside of the alcoholic problem itself, there's little difference between me and my fellow man. [01:04:09.893 – 01:04:20.993] Now if you don't believe that, you can go to any AA meeting in the country where it is a public meeting, and there you will find many non-alcoholics [01:04:20.993 – 01:04:22.273] and many alcoholics.

[01:04:22.273 – 01:04:26.033] Now, after the meeting breaks up, just try to pick them out. [01:04:26.033 – 01:04:28.893] If you can't smell them, you can't tell them. [01:04:28.893 – 01:04:39.673] I [01:04:39.673 – 01:04:46.653] also learned that being an alcoholic did not necessarily brand me as a moral degenerate. [01:04:46.653 – 01:04:52.433] It simply meant that I was a person that could not tolerate alcohol. [01:04:52.433 – 01:05:02.493] If I did not take alcohol, then I could adjust to life just as normally, and even more so, if we could use the [01:05:02.493 – 01:05:06.433] term, as any so-called normal individual.

[01:05:06.433 – 01:05:16.633] I learned that I had a sickness of a threefold character, of mind, body, and soul, and I learned [01:05:16.633 – 01:05:24.653] that I must adjust on all three levels, morally or spiritually, mentally, and physically. [01:05:24.653 – 01:05:28.453] If I didn't, I might not stay sober. [01:05:28.453 – 01:05:38.753] If I did, I not only would remain sober, but I would be happy and have peace of mind and contentment and live [01:05:38.753 – 01:05:42.333] in life as Almighty God meant me to live. [01:05:42.333 – 01:05:52.413] I also learned that, uh, being an alcoholic, I have a peculiar type nervous system, which means that is in relation [01:05:52.413 – 01:05:53.273] to alcohol.

[01:05:53.273 – 01:06:00.363] That means that there are certain types of emotional circumstances that I cannot tolerate for long. [01:06:00.363 – 01:06:07.893] If I do, I'm liable to set off again the compulsion to drink over which I might not have control. [01:06:07.893 – 01:06:16.253] Those circumstances are such as resentments, self-pity, over-hunger, over-tiredness, and the like. [01:06:16.253 – 01:06:26.333] If I permitted myself to indulge in these circumstances of living too frequently or for too prolonged periods of time, [01:06:26.333 – 01:06:30.953] I again would automatically set off that craving for alcohol. [01:06:30.953 – 01:06:41.023] I also learned that for the rest of my life I would be subject to certain cycles, cycles of depression, shakes, nervousness, [01:06:41.023 – 01:06:42.713] sleeplessness, and what have you.

[01:06:42.713 – 01:06:49.673] But I learned that the solution of these cycles would lie in their acceptance and not in fighting against them. [01:06:49.673 – 01:06:59.733] I learned that if I fought against these circumstances of my life, that that very conflict might set off the craving for alcohol over which [01:06:59.733 – 01:07:01.233] I might not have control. [01:07:01.233 – 01:07:10.113] I learned further that I would have about 10,000 to one better chance of retaining these newfound attitudes [01:07:10.708 – 01:07:19.318] And this newfound sobriety, by remaining among and with individuals who have the same problem that I have, than I ever could hope to have on my own. [01:07:19.318 – 01:07:29.428] Recalling to mind, if you will remember, the words of the good psychiatrist at the sanitarium when he told me, "Father, you can, but [01:07:29.428 – 01:07:39.568] you won't." You know, we, we don't know why, but for some unknown reason, the alcoholic personality on the average will not, we don't say

[01:07:39.568 – 01:07:50.288] he cannot, but he will not continue for long along positive lines of sobriety and thinking and living [01:07:50.288 – 01:07:51.608] on his own. [01:07:51.608 – 01:07:54.368] He could, but he won't. [01:07:54.368 – 01:08:04.308] You know, that, that, that's the reason when someone asks me, they say, "Well, Father, couldn't the church keep them sober?" They could, but they won't. [01:08:04.308 – 01:08:06.908] Couldn't his family keep him sober? [01:08:06.908 – 01:08:08.988] It could, but it won't. [01:08:08.988 – 01:08:17.188] We don't know why, but the alcoholic will not continue for long along those lines of living.

[01:08:17.188 – 01:08:24.228] I also learned that for the rest of my life, sobriety must be my primary concern. [01:08:24.228 – 01:08:30.788] Not necessarily my basic interest in life, but my primary concern, which means first. [01:08:30.788 – 01:08:35.228] And before everything else, I must avoid that first drink. [01:08:35.228 – 01:08:42.768] If I don't, I'm not gonna be any good to God, to my friends, to my neighbor, to my family, or to myself. [01:08:42.768 – 01:08:53.288] I also learned that no matter what problem might arise in my life, no matter how complicated the circumstances of my life might become, [01:08:53.288 – 01:09:03.368] that I, no problem could become too big, nor could the circumstances become too complicated that I would not be able to solve them without the aid [01:09:03.368 – 01:09:04.628] of alcohol.

[01:09:04.628 – 01:09:14.648] Then, uh, too, I learned that one of the reasons that the, uh, good, uh, professional men of the [01:09:14.648 – 01:09:24.788] past who treat alcoholics, the doctors, the psychiatrists, the clergymen, had so little success with the problem is because they [01:09:24.788 – 01:09:31.108] did not approach it on the threefold plane of mind, body, and soul. [01:09:31.108 – 01:09:35.308] You know what used to happen in the doctor's office? [01:09:35.308 – 01:09:39.048] The alcoholic went to the doctor, and what did the doctor say? [01:09:39.048 – 01:09:44.788] The doctor said, "If you don't stop drinking, you're gonna die." Hmm, he knew that. [01:09:44.788 – 01:09:49.968] And in order to make his death a little more palatable, he got himself another fifth.

[01:09:49.968 – 01:09:52.748] What did the psychiatrist say? [01:09:52.748 – 01:09:59.008] Psychiatrist would say, "If you don't stop drinking, you're going crazy." Mm, he knew that, too. [01:09:59.008 – 01:10:04.508] And in order to make insanity a little more bearable, he got himself another fifth. [01:10:04.508 – 01:10:06.488] What did the clergyman say? [01:10:06.488 – 01:10:11.828] "If you don't stop drinking, you're going to hell." He knew that, too. [01:10:11.828 – 01:10:16.628] And he had been almost there several times. [01:10:16.628 – 01:10:23.447] And so to quench a few of the flames, he got himself another fifth.

[01:10:23.447 – 01:10:33.488] All these good men were trying to frighten the alcoholic into sobriety, where we find that the alcoholic's [01:10:33.488 – 01:10:38.208] primary problem is a problem of fear and insecurity. [01:10:38.208 – 01:10:48.208] And that's one of the reasons, at least in my opinion, that the Alcoholics Anonymous program works so well, because through a human [01:10:48.208 – 01:10:53.288] being is once again set up a contact of confidence. [01:10:53.288 – 01:11:03.428] And through that confidence set up in another alcoholic, the alcoholic again gradually engenders confidence in his fellow man [01:11:03.428 – 01:11:10.948] and confidence in God, who is the only ultimate source of security and peace of mind and happiness. [01:11:10.948 – 01:11:18.368] You know, a lot of people will ask me, why is it that AA works when these other agencies fail?

[01:11:18.368 – 01:11:25.188] Well, as I said, first of all, they don't approach the problem on the threefold scale of rehabilitation. [01:11:25.188 – 01:11:31.048] We have a saying in AA that only the happy alcoholic will stay sober. [01:11:31.048 – 01:11:35.148] If the alcoholic doesn't become happy, he's not gonna stay sober. [01:11:35.148 – 01:11:41.468] Now, with mental conflict, confusion, moral problems, no one's gonna remain happy. [01:11:41.468 – 01:11:47.008] Then the group therapy, the establishment of the contact of confidence. [01:11:47.008 – 01:11:50.468] One alcoholic helping another alcoholic. [01:11:50.468 – 01:12:01.028] After all, that's the whole concept of AA, a group of individuals, each helping the other to achieve and maintain happy sobriety.

[01:12:01.028 – 01:12:03.488] It's as simple as all that. [01:12:03.488 – 01:12:12.348] One alcoholic helping hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder with another alcoholic.