Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
There is an oral tradition in AA that is a play on the first three words of this step: “Came to believe.…” It turns it into a three-part unfolding.
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
It has been estimated that over two million people worldwide are currently partaking in the assistance provided by an Alcoholics Anonymous group, and AA has been in existence for 90 years. That alone should tell us that the twelve step principles are connecting with something common to us all. As Christina, one of our readers wrote, “I have come to believe that everyone should embrace a 12-step program and just adapt it to the areas of life that are particular to you.”
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid fellowship of men and women coming together with the stated purpose of staying sober and helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety. It was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith of Akron, Ohio. Though it originally grew out of a Christian organization called the Oxford Group, a non-denominational movement modeled after first century Christianity, Bill and Dr. Bob soon wisely saw the value of keeping A.A. from being identified as a religious group.
Though founded on biblical principles, it continues today as a mutual aid fellowship of admitted alcoholics who are agreed that they can no longer manage their lives without the help of others and a higher power, however they identify that being. That “higher power” has been the key to it’s success in that no one has to commit themselves to any particular God, religion or denomination. No one has to receive Christ or become a Christian, though I’m sure many have. That kind of language is not found in any of the movement’s literature.
Day by day, day by day,
Oh dear Lord three things I pray:
To see Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly, day by day.
Are you conscious of the days passing by? Do you know what the date is today without looking? Are you watching this or are you just aware of time flying by? Time does move fast. No sooner did I put our Christmas decorations away when Valentine hearts started appearing everywhere.
Here in southern California, we are finding out a lot about disaster preparedness after the devastating wildfires that have taken lives and left thousands homeless in nearby Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Things like thinking ahead about what you would want to take with you if you had to evacuate and having it ready to go, a designated place of contact with someone outside the area in case your family gets separated, installing a sprinkler system on your roof, never letting your gas tank get below half full, having an emergency generator handy for power failures, and an emergency pack or two handy in case of fire or other natural disasters like earthquakes — something else we have to think about around here. These things have become painfully real in the last few weeks.
Anne’s spirit has always been a force of nature, an unyielding testament to what happens when determination meets passion. She’s lived her life chasing the extraordinary, pushing the boundaries of what the human body and spirit can endure. From carving down snow-covered peaks to defying gravity on waves and snowboard rails, Anne has always seen the impossible as merely the next challenge. But now, in the aftermath of her ninth surgery, it’s clear that her greatest challenge may not be a mountain or a wave but a battle against her own body.
The head is a good servant but not a great master. This simple yet profound truth underscores the limitations of relying solely on intellect and reason to guide our lives. While our brains are powerful tools, capable of storing vast amounts of information and solving complex problems, they are also susceptible to resistance. Why? Because the brain’s primary function is to keep us safe. It accomplishes this by urging caution, reinforcing limiting beliefs, and crafting excuses to avoid discomfort or risk.
As fires continue to rage across Southern California, the world watches with heavy hearts. The relentless Santa Ana winds and parched conditions have fueled widespread devastation, leaving thousands of families grappling with the monumental task of rebuilding their lives.
With the Eaton Fire spreading to over 14,000 acres and only 27% contained, and the Palisades Fire now nearing 24,000 acres with just 13% containment, the challenges faced by firefighters and residents alike are immense. As flames consume landscapes and memories, fear and uncertainty burn just as fiercely in the hearts of those affected.
In times like these, it’s natural for frustration to rise and for fingers to point. Yet, amid the chaos and devastation, blame and shame do not build bridges or heal wounds. The tragedy of these fires demands not division but unity — a shared commitment to support one another through this unprecedented crisis.
One voice that resonates deeply comes from Michael Martin, a globally respected real estate advisor and dear friend of Marti’s. With over 30 years of experience in Southern California, Michael has seen the resilience of this region firsthand. His message, written from the Pacific Palisades, transcends geography and circumstance, touching the universal human spirit. It’s a call to shift our focus from blame to hope, from fear to love.
I woke up this morning in a small town northeast of San Diego nestled in the foothills of the Cuyamaca Mountains called Ramona. The window in my bedroom looks across to a hillside of beautiful homes cascading down the mountain. You cannot look at this scene after the wildfires that are still terrorizing southern California without thinking what high winds and a spark could do to that hillside. California has so many beautiful hills and mountains like these that offer a sense of seclusion and countless “rooms with a view,” and yet they come with a risk. It makes me feel a little unsafe here except that today, not a leaf is moving it is so still.
A gripping photo in the local paper brought home the reality of the horrible tragedy of the wildfires that have brought so much devastation to southern California in the last week. It wasn’t a picture of the blazing inferno, or the charred and twisted remains of a home, or a picture of blocks of leveled homes cut down to their foundations as in a war zone. It was a picture of a concerned mother hurriedly carrying her five or six year old child, her face buried in her mother’s shoulder, with three firetrucks lined up in the background. Somehow this simple picture made the agony of this event personal. Why is she carrying her? Where are they going?
John Fischer The Catch 