Editor’s Note: Our guest contributor today is Joy Jones, my friend, collaborator and co-author of A Marriage that Changed the World: Lois and Bill Wilson and the Addiction Recovery Movement. Joy shares some of her many lessons from co-authoring this book. We’re delighted to let you know A Marriage that Changed the World will be available in paperback on Amazon by Friday, Feb. 7 and e-book now for pre-order with delivery Feb 10.

Ready, Aim, Fire – Bullseye! If you’re well-prepared and have well-defined goals, your achievement will be straightforward, yes?

No.

Progress won’t be straight, nor will it be easy to move forward, although if you’re persistent you’ll eventually hit the target.

That’s the lesson I learned from studying the life of Bill and Lois Wilson, the subject of a new book by Tom Adams and myself called A Marriage That Changed the World: Lois and Bill Wilson and the Addiction Recovery Movement. This couple laid the foundation for developing practical ways to help people recover from substance abuse.

As I researched this couple and studied their journey, I was gobsmacked by the circuitous, arduous path they endured to get healthy and then to extend the hope of recovery to others.

Bill had a road-to-Damascus encounter with God – struck sober in a flash. He became on fire to help other alcoholics. As a result of the teachings of a religious movement, he adopted scriptural readings, prayer and meditation as part of his spiritual practice. 

Yet, he fell out with the Oxford Group, the very organization that got him sober. Establishing Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) was a rocky road with some of his initial supporters relapsing. For ten years Bill suffered from depression. His spiritual practice didn’t exempt him from misery.

Lois grew up in a loving family with deep Christian roots. Her parents had a close and affectionate marriage. With this role model, establishing her own loving union and living a healthy spirituality would seem to be a given.

But marriage to an active alcoholic ravages any sense of closeness or affection. Even after Bill sobered up, Lois found herself harboring great resentment towards him. He never worked full time again resulting in years of homelessness. Being a lifelong believer didn’t exempt her from hardship.

But eventually, they hit the target – a solid marriage, a life of service. As co-founders of A.A. and Al-Anon Family Groups, they provided the template that has helped many individuals and their families recover from the devastation of addiction.

Before I studied Bill and Lois Wilson, I imagined they were exemplary in their discipline and devotion. To be sure, they possessed a good measure of faith and wisdom, but they were also victim of character flaws, bad habits, and dumb thinking – just like everyone else on the planet. The sad truth is that even if God singles you out to do great things, you still have to stumble, be humble and suffer before you succeed.

A Marriage That Changed the World chronicles the roller coaster ride that is marriage, recovery from addiction and being transformed by God. In our book, we lay out the tumultuous, transformative events in the life of Lois and Bill Wilson and how their marriage – along with the work of others – built Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Family Groups. Their efforts saved millions of people. It’s still saving millions.

Their example teaches us how to navigate the muddle in the middle of the mission, and to not let the perils along the path thwart us from our purpose.

Look for A Marriage That Changed The World; Lois and Bill Wilson and the Addiction Recovery Movement on Amazon – out the end of this week!