Was really refreshing to take a newcomer to an AA meeting today. New everything. Also good to see the pastor of a church referring the alcoholic to Alcoholics Anonymous. That is what real men of God do. They acknowledge that they are powerless over alcohol [1st step] and send these men for help to people that do understand the disease of alcoholism. Most alcoholics die of alcoholism [ a treatable illness] without ever being given a chance to seek help in AA. Well done Pastor Pat. You have saved a life.
A newcomer comes into a meeting and sit next to me. He just stinks of booze. After the meeting I ask him if he drove to the meeting. He said yes, now I'm a bit worried. Me and another friend accost him to coffee and another meeting. The whole time he is just mad as hell telling us he's just going to jump out and walk to his truck. So we convince him he should catch another meeting that night. He reluctantly agrees. I happened to know of a meeting 30 miles in the opposite direction of his truck. It's been over 4 hours and 3 meetings now sine we kidnapped him. He's now also 40 or so miles from his truck so we tell him want to walk back to your truck or go get some food with us? At this point he's sobering up, he's hungry and he does not want to try and walk 40 miles. After eating and some coffee, with 20 other drunks at 1am, he's ready for sleep. His tune changed from getting his truck at all cost to will you pick me up in the morning to go get my truck?
That was 7 or 8 months ago and I still catch him at a meeting from time to time. So cool when you help a newcomer and he sticks around. I do not know what made him sit in his seat that night through 3 meetings. All I can guess is that God put his big ass thumb on him and would not let him get up out of the chair.
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Back issues have me knocked down but not out. 100% disabled, chronic pain patient and SOBER! Been sober since 11/04/2009.
