And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. The people were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority!” 1 Mark 26-28

I can imagine a psychologist/psychiatrist in the early 40’s, having treated a client for his drinking, and now the individual has been to A.A. for a few months and is “clean and sober.” The person returns to the counselor and is asked: “How did you get sober. I’ve been treating you for years and you never stopped drinking. What gives? Who did this to you?”

Without a doubt it must have been a strange phenomenon back then for a person who was considered to be “beyond help,” then found to be sober, rational, and spiritual. “What is this? A new teaching—with authority?” Yes. When asked, how did they get sober when no one could help them, the answer was the Twelve Steps; “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.” They knew that. They knew the drink had gotten the better of them. They had tried all kinds of ways of stopping, changing patterns, drinking milk, anything they could do, but it didn’t work. And they knew their life was unmanageable. They had lost their jobs, been fired, threatened with jail or prison. None of this stopped them from drinking.

Their stories were documented in the “AA Bible,” the book, Alcoholics Anonymous. I was fascinated by the stories. They made sense. These men and women drank and could not be helped. But I was different. I didn’t do the things they did. I could suspend my drinking --for a few days—but then I was still under the influence even if I was not consciously aware of it. They turned their will and their lives over to the care of God as they understood God. I was a practicing member of my denomination. I knew all about God. I didn’t have to “make a decision” about turning my life over to God. I was Baptized, Confirmed, and I attended church. That was enough. As for steps four and five, I went to confession, so I didn’t have to get a sponsor and tell him all my deep dark secrets.

No priest told me I had Defects of Character I needed to work on. I really didn’t have any. Other people made me angry, caused me to… therefore I did not have to make Amends. And the other steps I did anyhow, like prayer and meditation. Big deal!!

As each year passed, I was still not happy. I wasn’t drinking but I didn’t have what those who were “living the program” had. They had peace of mind, the ability to be honest with themselves and others. “What is this? A new teaching—with authority?”

Bill W said that there was nothing in the Twelve Steps that could not be found in religion and or philosophy. It was an old teaching packaged in a simple manner so that a bunch of drunks could understand it if they worked together. It wasn’t “I admitted,” or “I did this” or “I did that. It was “We admitted…” We made a decision…” Together we discovered we were spiritual beings trying to live a human life with all our faults and failings. Together we supported one another to live honestly with ourselves and with others. Together we found a Higher Power that was greater than us who “could restore us to sanity.” Oh, yes. I was insane.

No matter how much I understood about the disease, I was neither sober, sane, nor spiritual. My problem was my EGO. It was I who was Easing God Out and leaving me spiritually dead.

What I was hearing was, for me, a new teaching indeed. It was a new way of looking at myself, others, and God. How often had I been told by my parents to listen to the teacher. Now I had to relearn, “Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth for you have two ears to listen twice as much as you talk.”

Just as people were amazed at Jesus, so too were professionals, co-workers, and family members surprised at our recovery. Jesus simply trusted in his Abba, his Father, his Higher Power and restored people to sanity. We too, reach out to those who are suffering from this disease, teach them to “go to a meeting, read the Big Book, and talk to your sponsor.” It’s that simple. It works if you work it. It works if you live it. Keep coming back.

Séamus P D
Séamus is a retired Episcopal priest in the greater New Orleans area.