Steps 3 and 4 – 2nd Annual Stay Sober for Keeps Workshop – Part 2 of 5 – 2012 – John K.

About This Speaker Tape

2nd Annual Stay Sober For Keeps Workshop - 2012

A nursing home in Oak Cliff serves as the backdrop for a brutal lesson in surrender. John K. recounts working with Brad H. a man who knew the Big Book inside out but remained a 'train wreck' until a near-death surgery left him p*ssed off that a Higher Power let him survive. John K. strips away the intellectual armor pushing Brad toward a Third Step prayer in a parking lot based on a 'flimsy read of hope.' The narrative shifts to the mechanics of the Fourth Step where John K. warns against the 'domesticated wussy program' of subjective interpretation. He advocates for a 'ferocious' approach to the inventory—cutting through the 'lame-o' justifications and the 'rabbit trails' of resentment to get to the raw truth. For John K. recovery isn't about pontificating on spirituality it's about the 'vigorous action' of cleaning house before the spiritual malady turns into a drink.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 John K. describes his early desperation and the 'flimsy read of hope' provided by his sponsor, Cliff B.
• 6:15 Story of Brad H. and the near-death surgery at Parkland Hospital.
• 11:40 Laughter: Discussion of the 'dipsh*t court appointed attorney' and praying out of desperation.
• 18:20 Analysis of the 'bondage of self' and the 'actor who wants to direct a movie' metaphor for alcoholic thinking.
• 25:10 Discussion of the 'ferocious' vs 'domesticated' program and the statistics of sobriety success rates.
• 32:45 John K. discusses the importance of protecting women in the fellowship and the role of strong women sponsors.
• 41:10 Deep dive into the 'bondage of self' and the spiritual malady that manifests before the first drink.
• 48:30 Instruction on the Fourth Step: avoiding 'rabbit trails' and the 'milk, sour, next' method of inventory.