MAKING A.A. YOUR HIGHER POWER

That's a beautiful theme, and one that speaks directly to the heart of Step Two. The Big Book makes it clear that a 'Higher Power' doesn't have to be a traditional God. On page 46, it says, 'When we saw the love and tolerance of the group, we began to admit that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.' For many newcomers, that love and tolerance is the first evidence of a power beyond their own will. AA itself—the fellowship, the meetings, the collective wisdom—can absolutely serve as your Higher Power. The book even encourages this when it says, 'We found that great reality deep down within us. In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found' (page 55). That reality can be the group conscience, the principles, and the experience of other alcoholics. So if the word 'God' is a roadblock, let AA be your Higher Power—it works just as well.