Free Will

There are many people that don't do what is right. Even people that I love (most of the time) have lapses in behaving the way that they should. I am diligent about watching others and pointing out when they are heading for trouble or about to make a mistake. Frequently I tell them that they need to change and do you know that often they don't follow my advice?! How stupid can a person be? Bowing to my superior understanding of all situations would be the best thing for them, for other people - well the whole world in fact.

Speaking of the world, the leaders of the world aren't too great at solving problems either. Some of the decisions, beliefs and attitudes these leaders possess are ridiculous to the point of incredulity. What happened to using common sense? Perhaps they have been educated so much that their brains no longer work. They might as well admit it, we can tell by the way they do things. Obviously, it isn't a secret...

On page 60 in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is a description of the approach to life that many of us take. The description starts in the last paragraph with the sentence, "...Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the rest of the players in his own way." Continuing onto the next page, "If his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. Everybody, including himself, would be pleased. Life would be wonderful!"

The first time I read this, I was furious. I wasn't just upset with the fact that the old HP had written down who I was, what really grated was the fact that He put it into a book that was published decades before I was even born! Was that really necessary? No. Since I've been in recovery from substance abuse, I've come to realize that the old HP tends to know what He's doing, so I rarely question His will. That doesn't necessarily mean that I don't offer Him my opinion and/or point of view from time to time. Just in case.

As I struggle to live life clean and sober in a world populated by idiots without killing myself trying to control everybody, I try to remember this: The old HP gave me free will. That was a brilliant move on His part. It was an absolute masterstroke! Everything was fine and all would have gone perfectly, but then He screwed everything up. He also gave free will to you. And her. And those people. And right away we have a problem.....

Have a good and sober day.