Getting Tripped up on that Power Greater than Ourselves

There are more than a few people who end up leaving the support of programs because they don’t feel comfortable with the specific religious direction some meetings take. It’s unfortunate that while many say there is no religious affiliation, many groups fall into a specific alignment, even endorsement, of a religion. It’s unfortunate because while many can just ignore it, some cannot, and those people may end up on their own, and that can be a hard if not impossible path in recovery.

First off – don’t give up. If you have found a particular meeting feels more like a visit to a revival tent, remember there are dozens of meetings (hundreds in big cities) to choose from. You can even start your own at some point with like-minded people.

The most important thing is to focus on what keeps you from drinking. It’s a habit of alcoholics to focus on the things they can’t tolerate vs. what they can (in my opinion).  So beware of talking yourself out of the help you need because something annoys you.

I remember finding a suitably secular meeting in NYC – I was relieved. They truly embraced the belief that they should not endorse any specific religion. Religion has traditionally been a very personal thing in our country – although over the last decade it’s become in my opinion uncomfortably public.   Anyone who isn’t in the mainstream can be made to feel awkward, even reviled!  Well, that’s not going to help anyone get sober.

The whole higher power thing can easily become the wall that some can’t get through – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Get creative.  I’m not talking about the cute comments like, “This chair can be your higher power, as long as you have one.”  Anyone with half a brain won’t be able to work with that.

However, there are principles and guiding beliefs that can certainly serve as higher powers. For example, Truth with a capital T.   The human mind is quite capable of using an abstract concept as a guiding force, and what is a higher power if not a guiding force?

This post might make some very uncomfortable, particularly those who believe there is only one thing to believe and everyone else is wrong. My goal in writing it is to help those who might be lost if they don’t find a way to make peace with this part of recovery through community.  Certainly helping another human being find safety and solace in a program of recovery is more important than converting them to a specific set of religious beliefs.