MAY 1
HEALING HEART AND MIND
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 55
Since it is true that God comes to me through people, I can see that by keeping people at a distance I also keep God at a distance. God is nearer to me than I think and I can experience Him by loving people and allowing people to love me. But I can neither love nor be loved if I allow my secrets to get in the way. It’s the side of myself that I refuse to look at that rules me. I must be willing to look at the dark side in order to heal my mind and heart because that is the road to freedom. I must walk into darkness to find the light and walk into fear to find peace. By revealing my secrets—and thereby ridding myself of guilt—I can actually change my thinking; by altering my thinking, I can change myself. My thoughts create my future. What I will be tomorrow is determined by what I think today.“Mouse’s Corner”
A.A. member Dave Mc. curates a few selected readings from a variety of A.A. related publications each month.
April 15 . . . harboring resentment is infinitely grave. For then we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the spirit.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 5
It has been said, “Anger is a luxury I cannot afford.” Does this suggest I ignore this human emotion? I believe not. Before I learned of the A.A. program, I was a slave to the behavior patterns of alcoholism. I was chained to negativity, with no hope of cutting loose.
The Steps offered me an alternative. Step Four was the beginning of the end of my bondage. The process of “letting go” started with an inventory. I needed not be frightened, for the previous Steps assured me I was not alone. My Higher Power led me to this door and gave me the gift of choice. Today I can choose to open the door to freedom and rejoice in the sunlight of the Steps, as they cleanse the spirit within me.
Contributed by Dave Mc.
First Wednesday… May 6th
Come join a review of Step 5 on May 6th (First Wednesday). “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
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!
Step Five Steps
Step Five is an arduous task. First, you have to find someone to hear your tales of woe, confessions, admissions, flaws and resentments. Most guys are not that interested.
I had one experience with a woman in the Program. She instigated it. I have known her a very long time. I wasn’t interested in getting that “fixed” and I was very skeptical of her self-proclaimed skills. I still like her very much but this was a bad idea.
Luckily, the Program does have the role of sponsors and I think there is some divine law that says they have to listen to a Step Five discourse.
But you have to HAVE a sponsor. Generally, this is someone who you have met in the program. They probably do not know your history.
I was fortunate in that my fourth sponsor and the one I continue to have today, did know most of my history. He also knew some of my history that I did not or had forgotten about. But getting Bruce, was a long journey of two years and I had done a Step Five with a previous sponsor.
There are no set rules.
That’s fortunate.
The important thing is to get a sponsor or someone and make the commitment to take the Steps of Step Five. Some guys I know have used priests. Once, I had a long talk with one when was about three years sober. I knew him a long time too. The dude was a priest though, I couldn’t tall him everything.
Anyway, I don’t have much more advice or comments. There aren’t a lot to give. Just do it.
Contributed by John M.
May Birthdays… IF They Make It!
May 16th… Dan T. celebrates 10 years
May 17th… Steve H. celebrates 37 years
May 18th… David K. would celebrate 20 years
May 19th… Dan Mc. would celebrate 38 years
May 23rd… Jeremy B. celebrates 20 years
May 24th… Lloyd A. celebrates 5 years
May 26th… James C. celebrates 3 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.
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!
Step 05
STEP SUMMARY
Have you ever noticed that the Fifth Step doesn’t say that we just admit our wrongs? It says that we admit the EXACT NATURE of our wrongs, so we need to do more than just confess what we did. We also need to see WHY we did what we did so that we can ask God to help us with it.
It’s obvious why we share our inventory with another person – because we are MASTERS at believing in our own justifications and half-truths. Aren’t we the ones who used to say we didn’t have a drinking problem? Didn’t we tell ourselves over and over that we were doing fine as we were sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of alcoholism? Since we’re not good judges of character, especially our own, we must confide in someone else. Only ANOTHER person can see us as we REALLY are. That’s why it says that a SOLITARY self-appraisal is insufficient.
The purpose of this Step is to help ease the anxiety, depression and irritability of hiding the worst parts of us. We are able to rid ourselves of isolation and loneliness. If we don’t report to someone on our shortcomings, we become God in our own lives as we did when we drank! THIS is the exact nature of our wrongs: We thought we were God – We thought we were in charge.
“What we used to be like” is not described in a “drunkalogue” (as it’s commonly referred to but listed nowhere in our first 164). It is described best in the reasons for our spiritual disobedience that led to our alcoholism (“12 & 12” p.174). It is when we lay out all of the defects of character that block us from our happiness (and from God as we understand God).
- “I was fearful – and I drank…”
- “I was resentful – and I drank…”
- “I was selfish – and I drank…”
A really effective description of what we used to be like will not list all of the alcohol you drank, or what the consequences of your actions were when you did drink. It will list the many defects of character that had you believe the only solution to your problem WAS to drink.
Therefore we have no reason not to read our inventory to someone. My relationship with my sponsor reinforces spiritual principles in my life. Every time I read an inventory, I receive the three blessings that are promised in the Fifth Step of the “12 & 12”:
1.) an end to loneliness and a sense of belonging to A.A. (p. 57)
2.) a feeling that I could be forgiven and that I am able to forgive others (p. 58); and
3.) a desire for true humility: a clear recognition of what and who I really am, followed by a sincere attempt to become what I could be (p. 58).
5th Step Promises
Also it says on page 75 (Big Book 4th Edition) that “Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted.” It goes onto say that seven (7) things will occur…
(1) “We can look the world in the eye.
(2) We can be alone at perfect peace and ease.
(3) Our fears fall from us.
(4) We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator.
(5) We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience.
(6) The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly.
(7) We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.”
MYTHS ABOUT THIS STEP
It’s not necessary to share your defects with another person—it’s enough that your Higher Power knows. It’s very important to reveal your inventory to another person, so you can receive feedback and experience. You’ll feel a huge weight lifted once you confide in another. This will allow you to move on to Step 6 with humility.
From an idea by George T.
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” and Sunday is our Rogue meeting in the park. 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!
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.
Extra Special Thanks Dept:
Thanks to our General Secretary John M. for “Fifth Step…”, Dave Mc. for “Mouse’s Corner”, Terry M, our Central Office Liaison, 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 – April 2026