HAPPY 4th of JULY

Published in Nature Coast Journal, July 2012

As we celebrate our countries independence from oppression, terrine and domination from an outside country, I am reminded of my own inde-pendence from the downward spiral alcohol had take me. I was certainly oppressed and held prison-er within my own skin but a foe our AA founders call John Barleycorn.

There came a time in our country's history where the people just wouldn’t take it anymore and struck out in a different direction. My dilemma, although I was tired of the results I was getting day af-ter day, was I ready to do battle with this very powerful foe which was running my life. It wasn't July but August when I had finally had enough. There was no bloodshed on my road to freedom unlike what our forefathers had to en-dure. The battle went on inside me for year after year. Finally after many years of fighting, and I wasn’t winning, I finally gave up and turned every-thing over to God as I understood Him at the time. I think when the Star Spangle Banner was written, all seemed hopeless and our country would never be free. That is when God stepped in and things began to turn for the better.

The power of this god in my life now can be applied to every situation which comes along. Like our loving country, the war did end and we all cel-ebrated only to have another war come along a short time later and followed by many more. I have had many huge challenges along this road of sobriety and to date have made it through all of them with God's help and direction.

I pray daily that the advocacies to both my sobriety and this great country of ours continue to be overthrown and that we all have a chance to live in the sunlight of the spirit.

Martin Luther King said it well, "than God I am free at last"!!!!!!

Happy Independence Day to all our brother’s and sister’s throughout our land and to those in AA who have also been given this gift of inde-pendence from alcohol. John L, Editor