The Noise of Alcoholism and the Still Small Voice – Sandy B.

About This Speaker Tape

14th Las Vegas AA Roundup - 1980

Sandy B. maps out the anatomy of a spiritual awakening contrasting the 'fitful panic' of a drunk's morning with the quiet clarity of recovery. He describes his alcoholism as a 'noisy' condition—filled with the buzzing of ears muscle spasms and a self-centered scream of 'What about me?' that drowned out any possibility of a Higher Power. Using the analogy of a rural mailbox he argues that the Steps are not academic exercises but the act of putting up the box to receive a gift. He dismantles the illusion of the 'painless way to grow up' provided by alcohol which allowed him to avoid the pain of rejection and failure. He frames the fatal nature of the illness as the very thing that creates the open mind necessary for a miracle turning a desperate emergency into a rescue rope that leads toward the joy of living.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:45 Laughter: Sandy B. jokes about his sprained ankle and the reactions of people who hate joggers.
• 2:15 Sandy B. emphasizes the absolute necessity of 'not drinking' as the foundation of the program.
• 5:30 Discussion on the difference between a sudden spiritual awakening and a gradual change.
• 8:10 The mailbox analogy: making oneself ready to receive the gift of a Higher Power.
• 11:45 Description of the 'noise' of alcoholism: physical spasms, buzzing ears, and mental panic.
• 16:20 The 'baby syndrome' and the self-centeredness of demanding specific answers to financial problems.
• 22:10 Reflection on using alcohol as a 'painless way to grow up' and avoiding life's normal rejections.
• 26:40 The 'flameaholic' analogy and the obsession with the first drink.
• 31:15 The jet pilot analogy: the moment of emergency that forces an open mind.
• 36:50 Mention of Charlie B. and the 'knowing things that just ain't so' regarding old ideas.
• 39:10 The power of a recovered alcoholic to bring hope into a home in crisis.