Chapter 5 - How It Works

Chapter Five
How It Works

ASSIGNMENT:
Read Chapter Five - "How It Works"
Respond To Questions About This Reading
Text of "How It Works"

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"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally escapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest."

. . . . . . . . . . . The Big Book

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Hi everyone,
My name is Audrey, I'm a COE and the group leader for the month of June. I love the Big Book and thank all who have lead so far this year, for their excellent questions. I had read this chapter many times. But it was amazing, it hit me one day. "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path......, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest." To be honest! What a statement. I never thought I was a dishonest person till I came into Program. And then I began to see where I had been dishonest. But I also learned to be honest with myself and others. Has not been easy but it was simple. I have a wonderful friend in Tennessee, who went into AA two years ago. I went to her the first weekend that she didn't drink.
We went to lots of AA meetings. She shook, she cried. But she went to the meetings. Knowing that her answers lied with the Program. After several months she complained about the meetings talking so much about God, saying, "If wanted to hear about God I would go to church." But within three months she began to change and it was wonderful. She began to see that there was a Higher Power that she could believe in. And the change that came about in her was Awesome. I had never seen a change in a person like that before. And I wanted what she had, peace and serenity. She was the reason I came to OA. I had seen with my own eyes what the Program could do for a person. The book says, if you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any lengths to get it - then you are ready to take certain steps. And I was ready to go to any length to get it. This chapter has changed my life. I hope it will mean something to you when we are through with it.

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THE QUESTIONS

1. Is there an easier, softer way to work this Program? Other than working the 12 Steps?
2. Will half measures avail us anything?
3. When it says that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him, just what does that mean to you? And what do you do when you turn your will and life over to God as you understand him?
4. So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the food is an extreme example of self-will run riot. We compulsive overeaters must be rid of this selfishness. How is that possible?
5. We are now at Step Three. Explain what the Step Three prayer means to you. "God, I offer myself to Thee - to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!"

Part Two
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ASSIGNMENT:
Read Chapter Five - "How It Works"
Respond To Questions About This Reading
Text of "How It Works"

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Therefore, we started upon a personal inventory, This was step four. A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke. Taking a commercial inventory is a fact finding and a fact-facing process. It is an effort to discover damaged or unsalable good, to get rid of them promptly and without regrets. If the owner of the business is to be successful, he cannot fool himself about values.

. . . . . . . . . . . The Big Book

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Hi Everyone,
My name is Audrey and I am a COE. And your leader for the month of June.
Seems they are telling us if we are to discover the truth about ourselves we need to disclose the damaged or unsalable goods. To get rid of them promptly and without regret. We have to do the same thing with our lives. We take stock honestly. Search out the flaws in our make-up which caused our failure. A fact finding and fact-facing process. This seems hard at first, but once you start there comes a breathe of fresh air to you. Will be amazing what you will find out about yourself. I am so thankful for this Program that has lead me down the road of recovery and I am not alone. Is wonderful, I truly believe.

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THE QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to you when it says "our liquor (food) was but a symptom?"
2. Why is resentment the number one offender?
3. Why does the word fear touch about ever aspect of our lives?
4. What does it mean to you when it says, "Faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves."

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