One Day at a Time in Al-Anon:
The phrase “to create a crisis to make the alcoholic come to his senses” is often misunderstood and wrongly applied. It does not mean that we should interfere with the drinker’s activities or plan pitfalls for him, or do anything that is punishment for the desperate sickness of alcoholism. Such actions cannot be excused on the ground that “it’s for his own good.” God did not give us the right to decide what is for anyone else’s good; we would need His own Divine insight to know what drives the alcoholic to his frantic escape from reality.
Today’s Reminder:
No one needs to create a crisis for the alcoholic. He is heading toward the ultimate crisis every time alcohol takes control of him. Our role is to allow the inevitable consequences to overtake the unhappy drinker, as they surely will if we keep ourselves from doing anything to prevent it. The trouble that finally faces the alcoholic will be of his own making.
“Scheming to outwit the addicted person is doomed to failure. Let’s examine our own motives to be sure we’re not playing self-defeating games. We will have to dig deep for this kind of honesty, but it’s well worth it.”