But many now believe too little, and they would have the rest of us who are spiritually curious and open-minded shut the windows and keep those ideas out. Even the words Higher Power upset some of my fellow UUs. I have the advantage of it s being a matter of life or death that I keep an open mind. My UU church pushes me to think of the bigger context of life. Not everyone is an alcoholic, but lots of the world needs attention and help.
AAs can get insular and smug.
I remember an old-timer telling me my problem was I read the paper and thought about the world too much. I do it to give back and because I need it, too and because it feels good. More fully, I stay because AA is where people know what it is to be alcoholic. I can tell my story until the cows come home, but neither the cows nor the non-alcoholics will really understand that craving that can take us out. No one but an alcoholic knows what it is to get pain medication after surgery, for medically sound reasons, and then to have the spirit of destructiveness start talking to you about how you need more, and need it all the time, and need it now, and get that nurse back, and hold all those calls from pesky AAs who want to wish you well.