I'm going to be brave and go out on the limb here. I am NOT an old timer. I am no religious expert, nor even religious at all. But, the miracles I have received from learning how to incorporate having a Higher Power/God in my life, as a result of learning the steps from my sponsor, I wanted to share these brief, simplistic thoughts for those who may be struggling with step two:
There is some being, intelligence, force or energy that created us and this universe. I think that may be easy to acknowledge. It continues to coordinate, maintain and sustain all life on earth, including us. It is what keeps the ocean current moving, the earth rotating, the flowers blooming, our hearts beating, the sun shining and the moon rising. It is Life energy, or whatever one prefers to call it. It is probably easy to acknowledge this "Life energy" (or whatever you prefer to name it) is a power greater than you alone.
Just a few common names for this Higher Power is: God, Spirit, Soul, Love energy, Creative Intelligence, the Divine, Pure Consciousness, Creator, Absolute, Higher-Self, etc.
I don't think we will ever be able to understand It through our minds alone. It is realized through direct experience. I think we have to want it, to seek it, in order to find it. Whatever you prefer to call it, know that the steps teaches you how to experience It!! ;)
In case you're still struggling, the power/energy/influence of the collective consciousness or group conscious of the people in an AA meeting works just fine too! That one was easy for me when I first heard that. I was a homeless, angry, broken and self-loathing, low bottom drunk. It was obvious for me to recognize they (their energy, their love, their knowledge, their experience, their compassion, their peace and joy, their genuine gratitude, their support) was a power greater than me alone! It will spontaneously grow into more from there!
I hope this helps! ;)
Connie
-- Edited by Connie F on Friday 21st of November 2014 10:09:37 PM
-- Edited by Connie F on Friday 21st of November 2014 11:41:39 PM
-- Edited by Connie F on Friday 21st of November 2014 11:42:03 PM
Early on in my sobriety, like many people, while I was going through that ages-old tortured process of sorting out all those long-held prejudices and faulty ideas about what I thought I knew about God, it suddenly occurred to me that I could consider the possibility that I might be wrong. That possibility allowed me to pray to a God that I didn't believe would ever help me. Once I prayed, I found out I really was wrong all along. Go figure.
