Can we keep a "conscious contact with God"?

Janis Elisabeth Hunt Johnson

A FRIEND of mine recently told me about how he uses the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to keep from drinking. We agreed that overcoming alcoholism boils down to prayer, which he describes as "staying in the sunshine of the Spirit." But how do we stay in that brilliance—alert and crystal-clear about ourselves—amid the confusion of daily life?

People of all creeds and customs meet in small groups around the world to follow the Twelve Steps.^{The Twelve Steps can be found in Alcoholics Anonymous (New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1993).} Originally devised by the founders of AA to conquer drinking problems, the Twelve Steps are now applied by many to recover from all kinds of difficulties—alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling, abuse, eating disorders, and so on.

I practiced the Twelve Steps for several years, in Al-Anon (for friends and families of alcoholics) and in Co-Dependents Anonymous (for people with "an inability to maintain functional relationships").^{Co-Dependents Anonymous (Phoenix, Ariz.: Co-Dependents Anonymous, Inc., 1995).} For me, these programs became a practical tool for seeking inner balance in the face of the alcoholism and addictions of my friends. My daily goal was to maintain my serenity, and, for the most part, my life greatly improved as I followed the Twelve Steps. But I still agonized over each and every character flaw, and I wondered how I would ever be able to keep a "conscious contact with God," an important part of the Twelve-Step program.