Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection. Show him how they worked with you. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 95
When I come into contact with a newcomer, do I have a tendency to look at him from my perceived angle of success in A.A.? Do I compare him with the large number of acquaintances I have made in the Fellowship? Do I point out to him in a magisterial way the voice of A.A.? What is my real attitude toward him? I must examine myself whenever I meet a newcomer to make sure that I am carrying the message with simplicity, humility and generosity. The one who still suffers from the terrible disease of alcoholism must find in me a friend who will allow him to get to know the A.A. way, because I had such a friend when I arrived in A.A. Today it is my turn to hold out my hand, with love, to my sister or brother alcoholic, and to show her or him the way to happiness.
__________________
* We eventually realize that just as the pains of alcoholism had to come before sobriety, emotional turmoil comes before serenity. *
A couple people pissed me off a little last night.
u know the type***so great**sober sooo long**maybe??
Driving crap at the newcomer
Scareing the shit out of them????
PRETTY MUCH SAYING **DO IT NOW OR NOBODY WILL WANT U HERE
MAKES ME SICK***THE PEDSTAL OF THERE'S IS SOOOOOOOO HIGH.
I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER DRINK AGAIN***WRONG** DRANK 7 YEARS WHEN I PICKED UP???????
GOD only knows the plan
I LOVE THIS:
Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize that we only know a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning mediation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something that you haven't got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.
Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny, May God bless you and keep[ you-----until then.
I have seen many of the oldtimers in my groups that I attend quit the program because of people coming in and going back out, they spent hours with a newcomer, sharing all their experience, strength and hope, and then the newcomer goes back out.My husband has been in AA on and off for 18 years, one man with 15 years quit coming because he was pissed off about the losers who just can't get the program.
Number one for me is to remember God is the one who is in control, I'm just there to share my experience, strength and hope, share what worked for me. I will always be there to reach out to anyone who walks through the door , calls on the phone, has a desire, however big or slight, to stop drinking.
I carry the message of AA, the message that Bill W. and Dr. Bob set out to carry, I do not carry the alcoholic. I believe I am given a reprieve of drinking today, not for the rest of my life, I share this with others,God is the only answer for me, He is the power that keeps me sober today.
At last night meeting , our oldtimer who has 36 years, got up after we said the "Serenity Prayer" and went into the Al-anon room...at first this bothered me , then I said to myself, He knows what he needs tonight, maybe he's just too tired to deal with the rest of us Alcoholics.I had all these thoughts running through my head , like maybe he was upset because one of the guys he sponsors was chairing the meeting again, and this guy just can't seem to stay sober...Maybe it was because we have alot of meth addicts who come to meetings these days....bottom line, it was none of my business why he went in the other room. I was there to carry the AA message. Put the focus back on me.Where would I be today if the oldtimers had not been their to give me a hug, a smile, and teach me how to work the steps?
