AA Thought for the Day
May 28, 2003
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Rigorous Honesty
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 incapable
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.
Thought to Ponder....
Honesty isn't an event...it's a process.
Recovery Related Acronym
H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.
A Member Shares...
Good evening, family!
I'm Charles, alcoholic.
Sorry to come in late. I was attending the Middle School Graduation for my oldest child. "Rigorous Honesty." When you first get started ... and I really am still just getting started, just swallowing the First Step is the first real application of rigorous honesty. Admitting I am powerless over alcohol is still a toughie. But when I am being honest with myself, I know it's true. Alcohol is the Big, Fat Liar, and it keeps trying to make a liar out of me. I just have to stay honest with myself, my family, (which includes you guys now), my faith, and so many other people. But it's being honest with myself first that starts all the rest. If I'm lying to myself, the rest of the house of cards falls down. Each day, there seems to be some way that usually requires some sort of moral bravery where I get to choose again to be rigorously honest: Bearing witness to a friend with a drinking problem, who may not have known I was an alcoholic; telling somebody why I won't be joining them for drinks; going to an AA meeting when I'm on a road trip, and saying to a new group of complete strangers, "I'm Charles, and I'm an alcoholic." When I first got started, just having the courage to raise my hand and share in this room ... yes, that actually scared me at one point. Now, it's almost as natural as breathing. Some day, God willing, rigorous honesty will come as naturally as that ... if I just stay sober, keep reading the Big Book, get a sponsor and work the Steps, and keep coming back here to you. Thanks again for listening.
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