Spirit… And… “Spirits”

MON., JULY 3, 2000, 11:18 AM
OFFICE, PULLIAM

“Back to work, again” seems to be the refrain, as you finish a kind of “pre-oral” with Dixie and her heavy dissertation. It is interesting for you to “resurrect” your once-competencies in alcohol and alcoholism as health issues. You remembered some stories and some names, so you’re still “valuable” in this professional role.

You recognize that one of the precursors of your commitment to the spirit and the spiritual as “dimensions” of health was your “immersion” in the alcohol studies field and what you came to know about AA and other 12 Step Programs. That was many years ago, but this dissertation study did serve as a “reminder”.

Alcohol, as it’s consumed, has varying effects on spirit… AND… the strength and power of spirit can determine (can certainly influence, but also can determine) how these effects are exhibited. You remember, from early in your “drinking career”, being pleased that alcohol produced “mellowness” and “love” in you rather than harsh talk and violence. This indicated, to you… and to Me… that your spirit was a rather gentle one (even as you had been quite a competitive athlete), with no apparent need to express yourself in angry ways.

So… you recognize… and have taught that alcohol allows rather than causes behavior. “In vino veritas” was an important revelation: you tend to do and say what “the real you” would do and say. If “the real you” is happy, self-confident, and appreciative of others your behavior, after drinking, is not noticeably different from that when sober. (Of course, with excess your physical functions diminish, and you can accept… or deny… such.)

You haven’t yet read all of this “saga” of Dixie’s, but, as expected, there is a lot of dysfunctional behavior and considerable violence. It’s hard to imagine growing up in a home with verbal and physical violence, with some of that being “passed on” to the next generation. It is easy to blame alcohol, for it is a factor, but, in “other people” it allows expressions of concern and of gentleness. Its “effects” can be quite different – even obvious “opposites” – and spirit is an important “determiner”.

You didn’t have much direct experience with Al-Anon, but you assumed that it functioned with comparable 12 Steps, like unto AA. In effect, it is a means of developing resilience… called a “self-help” group, but also functioning as a “mutual help” group… in which people help each other and receive help by giving help. The essence of such a group is spiritual. It doesn’t make the best rational “sense” that addicts are the best help to other addicts, but so it seems to be. “As you help others, you help yourself”. “As you help others to stay sober you have more “power” to stay sober yourself.” My, My… is this obvious… or not?

As I told you, now many years ago, alcohol is one of My “odd” gifts to humankind. Fermentation is a natural reaction involving some sugary substance, water, and yeast. It produces a mild beverage (like that brewing now in your old faithful crock), but then the distillation process (another natural one) can transform a simple beer or wine into a “strong drink”.

Why did I cause or allow such to happen, knowing how some humans would abuse it, bringing about sadness, even misery? It’s just another example of… “out of the mud grows the lotus”. If there were no alcohol there would be no alcoholics… and no need for AA and Al-Anon. But I see these fellowships as means for some, with weaknesses, to help others, with similar… and different… weaknesses. But wouldn’t the earth be a happier place if no such needs were evident. I decided against such an “Eden”. (Remember that I had to get “the good kids” out of that “perfection” and into living a more “challenging” life.