Help me O Great Spirit to walk the red path with firm steps. May we who are your people stand in a wakan manner, pleasing to you. Give to us strength which comes from an understanding of your power. Because You made us You know better than us, we will walk the path of life in holiness, bearing the love and knowledge of You in our hearts. For this and for everything we give thanks.

High Hollow Horn  Lakota

 

 

 

But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life--or else. Perhaps it is going to be that way with you. But cheer up, something like half of us thought we were atheists or agnostics. Our experience shows you need not be disconcerted.

If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago. But we found that such codes and philosophies did not save us, no matter how much we tried. We could wish to be moral, we could wish to be philosophically comforted, in fact we could will these things with all our might, but the needed power wasn't there. Our human resources, as marshaled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly.

Big Book  pgs. 44 & 45

 

  

We can only clear the ground a bit. If our testimony helps sweep away prejudice, enables you to think honestly, encourages you to search diligently within yourself, then, if you wish, you can join us on the Broad Highway. With this attitude you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.

Big Book  pg. 55

 

 

 

But for each man to stay in his own experience, whatever it to be, and for others to tolerate him there, is surely best.

William James