Let Go and Let God

Let Go and Let God.  One of the staple slogans in 12 Step. Let Go and Let God.  I remember hearing or reading this slogan for the very first time, wondering why they left off the end of the sentence.

Let go and let God do what?  What the heck does Let Go and Let God mean? It sounded like gibberish (of course, most of the slogans did in those early days).

One of the most common character traits (dare I call them defects?) of the addict, is the desire to control people, places and things.  Desire, manifested into action, has, in the past, brought proven results. When baby is hungry, and she cries, she gets fed. Baby has manipulated her environment to be satisfied and get life nourishment, and so it should be.  

So this notion of letting go is terrifying. How will Baby get fed if she doesn’t cry? Ahhh yes, the paradox of recovery.  Surrender to win, and victory in defeat – it never makes any sense.  

And the answer I heard in a smoky Alano Club room so many years ago, still rings in my ears, to the question, “How does AA work?” It works just fine.