Spirituality is viewed differently by different people, after attending five Alcohol
Anonymous (AA) meetings I clearly understood this. AA (2001) reminds its followers
in the Big Book that “alcohol is cunning, baffling, powerful and without help it is too
much for us. But there is One who has all power, and that One is God. May you find
Him now!” (AA, 2001, pp. 58, 59). AA Founders did acknowledge the existence of a
monolithic God however, according to AA’s (1981) 12 Step Program, Step three
“calls for affirmative action, which cuts away self-will, which is the only action that
blocks God or if you like a ‘Higher Power’ into our lives” (AA, 1981, p. 34). In the AA
meetings I attended the Higher Power was confessed as being, ducks, a rock, the
universe, and my Higher Power, which was undefined. The time given to AA
members to expressed themselves was limited to five minutes, therefore those who
spoke did not elaborate on why they chose their higher power. Members
acknowledged that they engaged with their higher power, or they gave thanks to
their
higher power for getting them through the week. However, one AA member
did feel the need to explain her choice, she chose the ducks. She advised everyone
that ducks were her Higher Power because nothing bothered ducks, everything
rolled off their backs into the gutter, and their feathers never allowed anything to
penetrate their being. Nevertheless, the majority of the people who spoke or had to
‘claim their place’ or ‘claim their seat’ referred to their Higher Power as being God.
