A Blind Man Reads Bill’s Story About the Fourth Dimension and Says Yes, I Live There – Blind Dave A.
About This Speaker Tape
Blind Dave A. from Austin, Texas speaks at the Show Me Group in Denton, Texas on December 7, 2008 with 10 years of sobriety (DOS July 9, 1998). He describes this past year as both the best and most tragic of his life — and in the midst of tragedy, he discovered Higher Power in deeper waters than ever before.
He opens by reading from Bill's story about being catapulted into a fourth dimension of existence. Bill's weary wife was told it would end in heart failure or wet brain. But in reality that was the beginning of his last drunk. Dave uses this to draw the line: sobriety is the beginning of the rainbow, not the pot of gold. A much more important demonstration lies before us in our homes, occupations, and affairs.
He reviews his gratitude journal and notices that every Higher Power experience was attached to a near disaster. The program offers tools to convert any crisis into a Higher Power experience.
The teaching core is about ego deflation through the steps. He describes doing his fifth step in Braille — the devil whispered your sponsor cannot read that — but when his sponsor prayed for him to be fearless and thorough, the last secret came out and the sunlight of the Spirit rushed in.
He emphasizes that a faith that works under all conditions is the promise — not just not drinking. Bill said belief in the power of Higher Power plus enough willingness, honesty, and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things are the essential requirements. These are ego-deflating attributes: as he deflates his ego, he lets Higher Power in. As he inflates his ego, he pushes Higher Power out.
Discussion
Be the first to share your thoughts on this tape.