Searching for God, Soul, and Recovery in AA

This little poem is interesting and true.

I sought my soul, But my soul I could not see. I sought my God, But my God eluded me. I sought my brother, And I found all three.

Why Searching for Your Soul Alone Can Lead You Away From Recovery

My searches for my soul have not worked out so well.

In a quest to find my soul, I focused more and more on myself. And that proved dangerous and counterproductive. I became more and more self-absorbed, without finding my soul, only my ideas, thoughts, and theories.

And, in turning inward to search for my soul, I turned away from Fellowship. And in our AA life, Fellowship is critical.

Why a Direct Search for God Can Become an Unproductive Distraction

Turning to my search to find God, a direct search for God, to think that I could find and define Him, was arrogant. It was an unproductive waste of time.

Besides, God was not lost and did not need to be found.

But working with others, living in Fellowship, then I found myself and God.

How Working With Others in AA Strengthens Spiritual Growth and Relationships

And focusing on myself and occupied looking for God, I ignored relationships.

In AA, everything is about relationships:

• In our inventories, we focus on relationships.
• Making amends means making relationships right.
• Carrying the message to another is a relationship.
• Spiritual growth is nearly always associated with working with someone else.
• Sometimes I am the teacher; at other times I am the student.
• Regardless, I am working with a brother.

So this little ditty carries a weight of meaning.