Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

STEP ELEVEN

God's reality, the nourishment of His strength, and the at-
mosphere of His grace. To an amazing extent the facts of
A.A. life confirm this ageless truth.

There is a direct linkage among self-examination, medi-
tation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can
bring much relief and benefit. But when they are logically
related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable founda-
tion for life. Now and then we may be granted a glimpse
of that ultimate reality which is God's kingdom. And we
will be comforted and assured that our own destiny in that
realm will be secure for so long as we try, however falter-
ingly, to find and do the will of our own Creator.

As we have seen, self-searching is the means by which we
bring new vision, action, and grace to bear upon the dark
and negative side of our natures. It is a step in the develop-
ment of that kind of humility that makes it possible for us
to receive God's help. Yet it is only a step. We will want to
go further.

We will want the good that is in us all, even in the worst
of us, to flower and to grow. Most certainly we shall need
bracing air and an abundance of food. But first of all we
shall want sunlight; nothing much can grow in the dark.
Meditation is our step out into the sun. How, then, shall
we meditate?

The actual experience of meditation and prayer across
the centuries is, of course, immense. The world's libraries
and places of worship are a treasure trove for all seekers.
It is to be hoped that every A.A. who has a religious con-
nection which emphasizes meditation will return to the
practice of that devotion as never before. But what about