Joe and Charlie Big Book Study – “How It Works” – Joe W.
About This Speaker Tape
This session of the Joe and Charlie Big Book Study walks listeners through Chapter 5, "How It Works," beginning on page 55 with the idea that Higher Power is found deep within us. Charlie opens with his childhood confusion about where Higher Power lives and the story of the three wise men who hid the "crown of life" inside man himself, tying it directly to the first paragraph on page 55: "deep down in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of Higher Power." From there he sets up the decision of Step 3 by showing how the concept of Higher Power has shifted from hellfire-and-brimstone to a kind and loving Higher Power who dwells within.
Joe and Charlie then dig into the history behind Chapter 5 — Bill W. writing the twelve proposals in roughly thirty minutes after prayer and meditation, the fight with the New York faction over Oxford Group absolutes, and the compromises that turned "directions" into "suggestions," "you" into "we," and "must" into "ought." Joe reads the original manuscript version of How It Works, including the unedited Step 3 language about turning our will over to "the care and direction of Higher Power," and contrasts it with what the fellowship forced Bill to change.
The second half moves into the heart of Step 3 on pages 62–63: the three basic instincts (social, security, sex), self-will run riot, and the definition of "wrongs" as incorrect judgment, incorrect believing, and the harms we do others. Charlie lands on the keystone of the triumphant arch — letting Higher Power be the Director — and Joe closes by reading the Third Step prayer, describing taking it on his knees, and insisting sponsees take it with him before the group breaks for Step 4.
Discussion
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