Prior to Joe coming into Al-Anon the notion of being powerless and helpless was totally strange and foreign to Joe. Joe never ever once admitted, accepted or acknowledged that HE was powerless, helpless, weak, incapable or even feeble, not once, ever. All things considered, Joe thought and believed it was his job to “help, assist, aid and support” everybody or anyone. To make certain and sure that almost everything worked right, and ran smoothly and without problems.

If every person would just do it HIS way, the entire world would work a whole lot better!

There was clearly this one small problem or difficulty — Joe was living with and coping with an alcoholic who was addicted to drugs and alcohol. Joe was sharing his life, his entire world, with somebody that had a disease or illness that caused them to be compelled and forced to do something that was harmful to and unhealthy for them. This made absolutely no sense whatsoever, defied all logic and reasoning, and left Joe baffled, puzzled, perplexed, bewildered and confused.

Absolutely nothing Joe ever did worked or proved help. Joe was defeated and whipped. Angry and Furious. Frustrated and Discouraged. Lonely, Unhappy and Depressed. Then Al-Anon told Joe that none, not one of those things Joe did or did not do mattered or made a difference. Joe was powerless and helpless. Joe was dealing and coping with a disease, illness or sickness that denied and refused it existed and that resisted any drug and alcohol treatment.

Admitting and acknowledging to oneself that they are powerless and helpless may sound like giving up or quitting. Well, that is precisely and exactly where Joe was, Joe surrendered! However the steps did not stop or end with surrender. They go forward and continue with a path of recovery and treatment that gave Joe a new power and strength, a new freedom and liberty, in realizing and knowing that it was NOT his job to decide or determine when someone or anyone else was ready and willing to begin recovery and healing and a new life.

There exists a power greater and higher than oneself who is NOT powerless, helpless, weak, incapable or feeble. A power and mightiness that is in control and much more capable than Joe ever was. All Joe had to do to get that power in his life was to make a simple decision or choice to turn it over to Him (Yahweh better known as God the Creator of Heaven and Earth) and sit back and watch it work in his life and the lives of others. Which, when an individual thinks about it, requires no real effort at all.