The 12 Step Program - Step 12 (Part 1)

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I will be speaking about one of my favorite steps. I have been doing step 12 for many years, first as I was a part of the 12 step program, and now just about all of my 12-step work is done via my podcast and my writing. It is certainly not quite as fulfilling as “going out in the field”, so to speak, I’m actually sharing my experience, strength and hope with a fellow sufferer. –In this episode I would like to speak about the first part of this 12th step. First, let me remind you about what the 12th step is please remember that the step I am quoting here is from the original edition of what is commonly called the Big Book. It is the first edition of the book titled, Alcoholics Anonymous. The original 12 steps were a bit different than those that you see on the walls of the meeting rooms today. Personally, I like to original of the 12 steps. There are actually three changes to this 12th step. The first change that we will be dealing with in this episode, is the change of the phrase spiritual experience, to spiritual awakening. I have also personalized the 12 steps in my version. The original producers of the 12-steps were explaining what they did to stay sober. So there steps contain the pronouns we, and us. I have changed the pronouns to the first person, i.e. I, me, and my. Section just that by doing this, the f program seems more personal to me. So, the first step is: “Having had a spiritual experience as a result of this course of action, I try to carry this message to others, and practice these principles in all my affairs.” The underlined parts are those that I would like to discuss the parts of this step. As you can see, I really have a lot to speak about concerning this 12th step. As a matter of fact, this step will have more parts than any of the other step episodes. At this point in time, I believe there will be six parts. This first part I am going to use just as a sort of precursor. I would like to explain the importance of the 12th step, as well as his origin in the Oxford Group. I hope you will find interesting. I’ve spoken extensively on the influences that the Oxford group had on the 12-steps I really haven’t said much about the influence that the Oxford group had on the 12th step. If you were a member of the Oxford group, you needed to be changed before giving witness to the events that happened in your life. When comparing this to the 12 step program, this would mean that a person would have to come complete all of the steps, up to and including step number nine, before they could be allowed to witness about their experiences. I realize that there are no rigid rules or mandates in the 12-step programs, but, being human, I often wish that persons in the 12- step programs could somehow be screened before making twelve-step calls. As you know, from hearing these podcasts, that I am absolutely certain that these 12 steps have been given to us from God, (in some way) and that we need to surrender our physical selves to God as part of our recovery. These are some of the things that I will be speaking about in this episode. I believe two things about this episode. 1 it is important to understand the origins of our 12 steps. 2. This is a spiritual program given to us through God.