"when the teacher is ready, the student will come"
True? False? Something in between?
And no, I'm not trying to sponsor some one with only (I'm guessing) a month clean.
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sober: showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice
This is my opinion for what it's worth ... I feel each and every person is both the 'teacher' and the 'student' ...
I have come to believe that I can learn something from anyone, IF I'm willing to carry an 'open mind' .... and IF I look for that special something that makes that person who they are ... I also at the same time , believe that I have something to offer others, no matter the situation ...
So ... ... ... ... To me ? .... The teacher IS the student AND at the same time, the student IS the teacher ... A better question to ask, perhaps ... is ... Are you spiritually on a 'higher' level, with sanity having returned, to be able to be both teacher and student at the same time ???
The 'mind' is like a parachute, it only works when it's open ... ... ...
God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I personally think we are all equals and there is no separation aside from amount of time spent sober. I, when in rehab, had alumni meetings each week where graduates of the center would come back. Almost all of them acted as if they were far more important than the current residents and that was a huge turn off and also a trigger for me. Yes there is seniority, but hell I learn from people sharing in meetings who only have hours sober under their belt and from those celebrating years of sobriety.
To sum up my rant, there are no students or teachers. We are all equals who share a common bond in alcohol.
Pardon me if that seems arrogant or anything, just my two cents.
It was something I heard at a meeting. And I was kinda like.... Sometimes, you run across those people who think they got their 5h!7 together, proclaim they are a guru, and pontificate on the steps, mean while, you find out that guy downs a thing of nyquil or listerine before bed and claims 20 years.
Tradition 5 (?) says something about the alcoholic who still suffers. Regardless of time.
IDK, was thinkin someone was trying to say "god will give you a student when he feels your ready to teach"
but I wasn't sure WTF this guy was talkin about and I wasn't sure if it was an established cliche or this dude pullin stuff out of thin air.
Sorry. Thanx.
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sober: showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice
Hope you are doing well. I'll try to avoid opinions, but here is my experience. I guess my answer would be "in between". I have to remain a student and also try to help/teach others when we can. The new people help remind me of what it was like and the basic fundamentals we all need to keep in our lives. A person with 60 days can help a brand new person in ways a person with 20 years can't (not suggesting someone with 2 months becomes a sponsor of course). Stick around, make sure your own house is in order, the chance to help will always be there in some form.
I know have learned more from some of my sponcees than they will ever know.
I don't think I've heard the student/teacher phrase you mentioned. I've heard "when the apple is ripe, it will fall", and most often, "when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear".
Regarding the Guru people you mentioned. I was a little disheartened early on when I found out that a couple of the people that I enjoyed listening to, learned from and knew a lot about the AA program could never put much sobriety together, I even saw some pay the ultimate price, they could never live the program. These people have a special place in my heart today, they helped to save my life. A truthful message is still the truth no matter who it comes from. I know God has sent me messages though a lot of different people, for that I am grateful.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Hope you are doing well. I'll try to avoid opinions, but here is my experience. I guess my answer would be "in between". I have to remain a student and also try to help/teach others when we can.
And that's how I define a teacher, student relationship. It's called give and take. Thanks Rob, for reminding me of that.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Sunday 20th of May 2012 01:51:36 AM
