Step 2 "Power, Greater Than Ourselves

Step 2 "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

I have been reading the AA Big Book (BB) lately and have been truly amazed at the value they have placed on the spirituality of our program. No, I am not talking about religion! Maybe I should stop here and explain these two terms for you...

Religion to me is the church I attend or the faith or belief that I have been a member of. This is where I would go to fellowship with other believers. The BB says that we don't have to be a member of any specific religion to have spirituality.

To me, spirituality is the relationship I have with my God, Higher Power (HP), or whatever you might call Him. Some people use God, others Budda, Mohammed, etc. It really doesn't matter what He is called just that we believe in Him and that we are trying to have a relationship with Him. The relationship with our HP is important because we are going to build on that relationship as we move further in the steps. We need to believe that our God can do for us what we cannot do alone!

For those who are nonbelievers, they are asked to find Someone or Something greater than themself to trust in. Some try to just "fake it till they make it". The BB even calls God, Spirit of the Universe. Let me share some of the BB thoughts here with you.

"As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Inteeligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him." BB, page 46

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us." BB, page 164

Stop now and think. Do you have a Higher Power greater than yourself? By now you have realized that you can't fix your problem. Someone or Something greater than you has to help. Do you know Who that Someone or Something is? If so, look at your relationship with Him. Look at how much you trust Him. Can you say you have a spiritual relationship or is it a religious one? Take time now to evaluate your relationship with your HP. May you find it to be a spiritual one!