As I grow in the Fellowship, I never cease to be amazed.
I've heard the saying countless times "don't be afraid to talk to your sponsor, etc. -- they might need it as much as you." Got a bit of insight to just how true, how incredily true that is.
I don't sponsor at the moment, but I've been talking a lot with a recent newcomer, seeing how he's doing etc. Anyway, for reasons I won't bore you with, but which could cause a massive resentment, my car is off the road until at least tomorrow.
So, heading home this evening, that means that I'm waiting at the bus stop, *the bus stop*, the one near that pub that I would go into EVERY evening, and start my drinking, while I waited for the bus (or as happened sometimes, missed the bus).
I'm reflecting a bit -- last time I'd been there, seems a long time ago, I'd gone in to the pub. Pre-sobriety.
I wasn't going to go in tonight and I wasn't missing going in, but it did feel weird. Kind of like Total Recall, everything is the same, but different.
Anyway, the newcomer guy had left a msg on my voice mail and I called him back while wiating for the bus. He told me some stuff and I told him about where I was and how different it was now, and what it was like back then. Basically just shared some ESH.
He said "you know something, you're a really good person, I really appreciate what you're doing for me."
I absolutely honestly said back "I was told early on in this Fellowship that this is a two-way street. It really is. Helps keep me sober." (or something like that). Cause I just felt good -- no more Total Recall feelings.
Oh yes, Steve. This is how it works, pay it forward and get to keep it.
Had a sponsee come round this morning, a bit earlier than I was anticipating, so I'm still in dressing gown and jammies. This guy was stuck on step 4 (probably because he hadn't embraced step 3) and a couple weeks back I asked if he was drinking - he had that old Vodka aftershave scent to him......Oh, no, no, no he said. On Friday he called me and asked if he could see me on the Monday.
So he came round, told me he'd been knocking off a half bottle a day since February but hadn't had a drink since aftr talking to me on Friday.
So we talked about it, talked about is he really powerless over alcohol, went through steps 1, 2 and with a prayer on our knees, step 3.
But it easily did as much for me as it has for him. And at least he knows it get's worse not better and that he needs to pick up the phone rather than a drink.
__________________
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
There's hope for us now and your testimony is evidence of that. I actually knew a handful of people who had achieved some milestones in AA, prior to my joining. These people were not revolving door members of AA -like I was- and for good reason. Now that I'm a long standing member of this fellowship, I can understand why. I still clung on to the false hope that alcohol would still be the cure all of everything -which it isn't. They started to enjoy some quality sobriety, instead, which I never did. Sobriety started to do for them which the bottle could not. I would never take a sober breath until I understood that concept. Thank God I have -for today.
~God bless~
Thanks...again for your testimony and the message of hope.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Tuesday 17th of May 2011 12:13:01 AM
