Step 11 and the Whisper That Only a Broken Soul Can Hear – Ali H.

About This Speaker Tape

A childhood in Iran marked by the bombings and the beatings of an addicted father leads Ali H. into a life of suicide attempts and a desperate confusing relationship with the bottle. He describes the 'whisper' of a Higher Power—a quiet persistent call to service that he was too self-absorbed to hear until he was 12-stepped by a member of the fellowship in 2006.

Ali H. recounts the danger of the 'lifeguard' ego where he mistook his own utility for power a delusion that contributed to the tragedy of a sponsee's death. Now he views sobriety not as a pursuit of happiness but as a purposeful life of carrying his cross of depression and answering the call to serve others whether by digging holes with clam shovels in the hot sun or leading Step 11 workshops in Toronto.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening moment of silence and the Sunday prayer.
• 4:15 Ali H. discusses the 'whisper' of the spirit and his previous dismissal of religion due to his experiences in Iran.
• 8:30 History: The story of Bill W. and the Mayflower Hotel lobby.
• 12:45 Ali H. recounts his childhood trauma, including his father's beatings and the bombings in Iran.
• 15:20 The 'Gift of Desperation' and the start of his work with the Big Book.
• 20:10 Step 12: Ali H.'s experience sponsoring Ramsey and the fear of sounding stupid.
• 26:40 Laughter: Discussion on the rigidity of 'time requirements' for sponsoring.
• 31:15 The 'lifeguard' ego and the tragedy of Peter's relapse and death.
• 36:50 Working the steps with a member who had learning challenges over 14 months.
• 42:10 Ali H.'s relapse on Percocets and the need for 'knee-to-knee' sponsorship.
• 48:30 Story about digging holes with clam shovels and helping a fellow laborer.
• 54:10 Closing thoughts on the 'seat belt' of the 12 steps and the connection between Step 1 and Step 12.