How's that working out for ya?

Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an individual with a passion, say, for jay-walking. He gets a thrill out of skipping in front of fast-moving vehicles. He enjoys himself for a few years in spite of friendly warnings. Up to this point you would label him as a foolish chap having queer ideas of fun. Luck then deserts him and he is slightly injured several times in succession. You would expect him, if he were normal, to cut it out. Presently he is hit again and this time has a fractured skull. Within a week after leaving the hospital a fast-moving trolley car breaks his arm. He tells you he has decided to stop jay-walking for good, but in a few weeks he breaks both legs. 

On through the years this conduct continues, accompanied by his continual promises to be careful or to keep off the streets altogether. Finally, he can no longer work, his wife gets a divorce and he is held up to ridicule. He tries every known means to get the jay-walking idea out of his head. He shuts himself up in an asylum, hoping to mend his ways. But the day he comes out he races in front of a fire engine, which breaks his back. Such a man would be crazy, wouldn't he? 

You may think our illustration is too ridiculous. But is it? We, who have been through the wringer, have to admit if we substituted alcoholism for jay-walking, the illustration would fit us exactly. However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane. It's strong language - but isn't it true? - Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 37-38

Pardon the long citation. I considered truncating it, but it's such an meaningful example for most of us that it does bear retelling.

Why does the jay-walker engage in such absurd and incomprehensible behavior? Alcoholics are hardly unique in exhibiting this sort of self-destructive behavior. The key to untying this knot is to ask one simple question: "What's the payoff?" People do not self-destruct for the pure joy if it. I believe they are tying to meet a fundamental need in a way that offers relief without addressing what is lacking in their lives. I'm sure you can think of numerous examples. Those who know me well need look no further.

So what is it that the alcoholic is missing? What emptiness are we trying to fill? Here's an excerpt from Carl Jung's letter to Bill W.:

I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community...  You see, "alcohol" in Latin is "spiritus" and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum.

Jung refers to an "unrecognized spiritual need." That's quite in keeping with what we have been discussing so far regarding the spiritual nature of the problem. Notice as well that he sees the solution in a "real religious insight" (a spiritual awakening?) or "a protective wall of human community" (a fellowship?). 

In "A Vision for You" Bill draws the parallel between what alcohol means for most normal drinkers and what the fellowship offers in its stead. "Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous." AA fills the unrecognized spiritual need by providing the human community that genuinely satisfies the need as opposed to the counterfeit provided by alcohol.

“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.” 

So said St. Augustine. I could not say it better.