RANTIN' AND RAVIN' TODAY...
The Monday 'Beginners' section of our New Dawn group was chaired by an excellent man, who really REALLY knows his way 'around AA'...ME! -grin- Dontcha just love the way some people say something like..."I've been 'around AA' now more than a few 24 hours..." etc. Why the f... don't they say HOW long. "A few 24 hours" could mean four days. Do I want to ask that guy to be my sponsor? (Maybe!)
After all, the only thing I DO own in AA IS my sobriety date. Everything else is day-to-day, live-and-learn, continue-to-grow-along-spiritual-lines stuff. Which is great. But the one static thing (hopefully) is my D.O.S. It's all MINE!
I had my last (final?) drink the night before my first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, March 18, 1974. That's the way everyone introduced themselves at that time, of course, things change, e.g., we do not wish to offend someone who has--maybe--three weeks! Well, I remember saying ,"I'm Steve, I'm an alcoholic, and I had my last drink seven days ago. AND I PASS!" It was NOT embarrassing. I recall being 'so proud' of that accomplishment, TRULY. Oh well, I'm WAY off the topic ...
Ya know, we treasure our sobriety, our Twelve Traditions, our Twelve Steps, our literature, our meetings, our sharing at those meetings, our service work, our (sometimes) loose structure, our coffee, our rooms with A/C, etc. I do believe though, that there is a bottom line somewhere. And it is the following (my opinion, of course):
There would be NONE of the above, absolutely none, if it were not for the "BOTTOM LINE", that is, one alcoholic talking to another, helping another, spending time with another, loving another, or rather loving the God I find in another. I think often about this, that one-on-one is where it began, and one-on-one is where it continues, even this very day--to 'begin' for someone...somewhere.
Accompanying this one-on-one relationship (which may last only minutes--or YEARS!) is the Presence of God, Who is really doing the talking, one to another. I have simply made myself available for Him to do His work among us humans. And by gosh He DOES work, even when we do not!
Anna did the lead this morning on Step Three, and she does have "it", that "it" which we read on page 58 in Big Book: ..."go to any length to get IT!" (A loosely quoted phrase?)
Thank You God, for bringing me to Alcoholics Anonymous, and thank YOU AA people for bringing me back to God!
Steve E.
8 comments:
I think you get "it" too! Stay dry and stay safe! J
I always thought that the question "Are you willing to go to any length?" is such an important one. I use it in Al-Anon when a person approaches me to sponsor them. If they aren't ready, then I tell them to pray more.
...and thank you for the realisation that i needed help back then!
every sober day is a gift! one i am able to give myself. god willing...
I knew you were wild & crazy. Now I'll add weird. (weird is =GOOD=)!
Wow, 34 years of sobriety. Congratulations, Alky! I agree with syd. "Are you willing to go to any length?" is so important. In treatment, my counselor suggested making as many physical changes to my environment as I could. My husband and I switched sides of the bed, sides of the garage, and bathrooms. My counselor was right; every day when I woke up in the morning, I was reminded that I was living a new life. I made this suggestion to a woman last week -- when I worked at the treatment center -- and she almost passed out. "There's no way I could do that! I'm so anal about stuff like that!" I said, "And not drinking is easy?"
::sigh::
I totally agree about that BS - "a few 24 hours" if you don't want to say how long you have been sober, don't. But don't say that crap, I notice it is usually people with a year or two, trying to boast without sounding boastful.
Hey Steve, I really like your posts. Now you just stay out of Fay's way and I hope you, and yours are safe. It is in God's hands.
Stevie, is that storm hitting you tonight? Be safe!
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