APRIL 1
LOOKING WITHIN
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 42
Step Four is the vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what the liabilities in each of us have been, and are. I want to find exactly how, when, and where my natural desires have warped me. I wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and myself. By discovering what my emotional deformities are, I can move toward their cor- rection. Without a willing and persistent effort to do this, there can be little sobriety or contentment for me. To resolve ambivalent feelings, I need to feel a strong and helpful sense of myself. Such an awareness doesn’t happen overnight, and no one’s self-awareness is permanent. Everyone has the capacity for growth, and for self-awareness, through an honest encounter with reality. When I don’t avoid issues but meet them directly, always trying to resolve them, they become fewer and fewer.First Wednesday… April 1st
Come join a review of Step 4 on April 1st (First Wednesday). “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”
John reviews the step corresponding to the number of that month on each first Wednesday. It’s a rewarding meeting with John outlining the step of the month, how he was challenged by it and how we tackle it ourselves, with and without success! Look for his monthly contribution in this edition!
April Birthdays… IF They Make It!
April 4th… George T. celebrates 44 years
April 7th… Bill B. celebrates 33 years
April 10th… Mike T. celebrates 35 years
April 11th… Tim P. celebrates 8 years
April 25th… John M. celebrates 13 years
April 26th… Lloyd A. celebrates 7 years
April 29th… Michael P. celebrates 7 years
If your birthday has been missed…. fill out the birthday form.
We really want to celebrate your AA anniversary because your birthday made ours possible!
Thanks everybody and apologies to you if you were missed or incorrectly noted.
The Dreaded 4th Month Column
They say the 4th Step is the first step of the Program, where we begin to take action. Like, the first three months of the Steps or the Year, I have been philosophically weighing the effects of my alcoholism. Now, I am tasked with preparing to do something about it.
Bummer.
I have had a few years of sobriety so I got the resentment list pretty much down. A few additions each year but that Amazon delivery driver’s life is never affected.
This is a column where I spend a few weeks talking to myself, out loud. In a high rise multi residential. I wonder… who hears me? I do get some strange looks in the elevator. Do I care? Not really. Write that down.
I hear other members speak about their experiences with Step 4. I know a few who say have never done one and have been going to meetings for over 20 years. I have heard others say they have done more than one.
I did two, that were written out, one was reviewed with another. Then I got the bright idea that since I use Microsoft OneNote, for all kinds of things, I would put in what they call a Section, Call it Step 4, later renamed to AA Notes.
I have heard Step 4 referred to as a museum, an archive, a garage sale of Everything and that is what the Section of my OneNote AA entry looks like.
In a Section, you can add Pages, with different titles so that is how I have kept a list of resentments I hardly ever refer to. I keep a Page with the Agenda of an Annual Meeting. It doesn’t make much sense. I copy and paste things that other people send me and forget what they intended. That kind of thing.
The important thing is, I have this Section to look at once a year when I have to write the 4th Step Column.
Nah, there is other stuff too. I have written a long missive to my daughter on one of her non-sensical opinions that I cannot get into. I have written a few notes to a buddy of mine who died but was a very good counsel when he was around. Usually, on his birthday.
Sometimes I write just to let off a little steam. I tell you all of this because this is just one example from one guy about how he handles Step 4. I’m not just telling you, I am telling me, so I will look at it more often.
Contributed by John M.
Step 04
STEP SUMMARY
Page 64 in the Big Book starts by comparing a personal inventory to a business inventory. In the first full paragraph of page 64, it says, “Therefore, we started upon a personal inventory. A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke. Taking a commercial inventory is a fact-finding and a fact-facing process. It is an effort to discover the truth about the stock-in-trade. One object is to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and without regret.”
The whole point of a business inventory is to identify a company’s liabilities and its assets. They identify their liabilities (those things that are no longer selling – or working for them) so they can remove them from the shelves to make room for more assets (those things that will sell – or work for them). Taking a personal inventory is no different. We searched out the flaws in our make-up which caused our failure. Being convinced that self (not alcohol but self), manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations. We had to get down to causes and conditions.
A solid Fourth Step inventory where we take stock of the manifestations of self-will is divided into three (3) parts:
1.) Our Resentments (or “grudge list” as Bill calls it)
2.) Our Fears
3.) Our Sex Conduct (and harm done toward others in this area)
The Fourth Step is NOT about finding out who we ARE, it’s about finding out who we are NOT, so with God’s help, we can be rid of it and who we ARE will then shine through. That’s another reason why “self-knowledge avails us nothing.” We need to find out what GOD wants us to be.
In our Fourth Step inventories we will discover, for the most part, that our troubles were of our OWN making. We will see how we played a part in every resentment and fear we’ve ever had and how our conduct has harmed others. These are the very things that have blocked us from God, which is the ONLY Power that can remove the alcoholic obsession.
MYTHS ABOUT THIS STEP
This step is meant to tear you down. Members who complete this step say they feel a newfound confidence once they’ve finally faced themselves. They are ready to start the next chapter of their lives as sober and better versions of themselves.
…more on Take the 12
From an idea by George T.
My First Meeting
Please be “of service.” If you’ve never contributed a “My First Meeting”, please help to keep this column going…we need you! What do you remember most of your first meeting? It can be one sentence; it can be up to two paragraphs. Could be funny, poignant or strictly “clinical”. Write what you want…you might have enjoy writing it!
“Mouse’s Corner”
A.A. member Dave Mc. curates a few selected readings from a variety of A.A. related publications each month.
It has been well said that “almost the only scoffers at prayer are those who never tried it enough.”
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 97
Having grown up in an agnostic household, I felt somewhat foolish when I first tried praying. I knew there was a Higher Power working in my life—how else was I staying sober?—but I certainly wasn’t convinced he/she/it wanted to hear my prayers. People who had what I wanted said prayer was an important part of practicing the program, so I persevered. With a commitment to daily prayer, I was amazed to find myself becoming more serene and comfortable with my place in the world. In other words, life became easier and less of a struggle. I’m still not sure who, or what, listens to my prayers, but I’d never stop saying them for the simple reason that they work.
Contributed by Dave Mc.
Step 2 Men’s Group Believes…
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
We’d never presume that the 12 Steps are not clear. Nor would we imply that they need ‘improvement’. However…for purposes of assisting to keep the meeting pointed in an important direction each day, the “Step 2 Men’s Group Statement” is read as follows:
Step 2 Men’s Group is founded on the belief that spirituality is essential to our sobriety.
Our group is non-religious, but we do not oppose anyone’s religious beliefs. We believe that respect for others and their beliefs is essential to our spiritual development.
Accordingly we ask that avoid criticism of others or of their religion or lack of religion, their race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance, trade or profession, length of sobriety, or personal beliefs.
Our goal is to further our spirituality, our sobriety and our personal development, not to confront or belittle others. Always remember to be kind to others.
Our Trusted Servants Continue to Be:
The current Step 2 Men’s Group meeting schedule is Monday, Wednesday & Friday at Tim’s (3809 J St), Tuesday & Thursday online, Saturday in the park is “Daily Reflections”. Each gathering is one hour. Great job men!
- Monday: Tim C.
- Tuesday: Mark C.
- Wednesday: John M.
- Thursday: Sean F.
- Friday: Jon B.
- Saturday: Dave M.
Want to add your name to the “Back-up-Help-Substitute Secretary List”? Just contact Group GS, John M., Treasurer Mark W. or any of our other Secretaries and let them know!
Extra Special Thanks Dept:
Thanks to our General Secretary John M. for “Month 4”, Dave Mc. for “Mouse’s Corner” and our Treasurer Mark W. for all your contributions. We’re still waiting for YOU gentle reader…Why don’t YOU contribute a short “something?” Any length, most any AA related topic. Reply now and it will get included next month!
Men’s Gazette – March 2026