March 22

March 22 – AM          Page 78, Into Action, Chapter 6

Most alcoholics owe money.  We do not dodge our creditors.  Telling them what we are trying to do, we make no bones about our drinking; they usually know it anyway, whether we think so or not.  Nor are we afraid of disclosing our alcoholism on the theory it may cause financial harm.  Approached in this way, the most ruthless creditor will sometimes surprise us.  Arranging the best deal we can we let these people know we are sorry.  Our drinking has made us slow to pay.  We must lose our fear of creditors no matter how far we have to go, for we are liable to drink if we are afraid to face them.

March 22 – PM          Page 128-129, The Family Afterward, Chapter 9

When father takes this tack, the family may react unfavorably.  They may be jealous of a God who has stolen dad’s affections.  While grateful that he drinks no more, they may not like the idea that God has accomplished the miracle where they failed.  They often forget father was beyond human aid.  They may not see why their love and devotion did not straighten him out.  Dad is not so spiritual after all, they say.  If he means to right his past wrongs, why all this concern for everyone in the world but his family?  What about his talk that God will take care of them?  They suspect father is a bit balmy!
He is not so unbalanced as they might think.  Many of us have experienced dad’s elation.  We have indulged in spiritual intoxication.  Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, our pick struck gold.  Joy at our release from a lifetime of frustration knew no bounds.  Father feels he has struck something better than gold.  For a time he may try to hug the new treasure to himself.  He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product.