I've been thinking about this theme a lot lately because it is very much how I started with the program. It took me a long time to stop being afraid of meetings and connecting with others about our disease. I have been surprised at how many people I have met who have done the same thing. Like all alcoholics, I guess I thought I was unique :) Today, during a meeting, this was a named theme and half the people in the room told stories of being unable to fully stop drinking until they committed to the program long term and fully. Many of them also told stories of feeling tempted to believe that they were getting better and possibly even recovered from alcohol to the point where they could drink again. It's always there and ready to temp, isn't it? I really loved Pappy's latest post, which compared alcohol to the lions that hunt those on the outer edges of the packs. I needed to read that and will be using it in future conversations. Anyway, he's to sticking in the middle.
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When every situation which life can offer is turned to the profit of spiritual growth, no situation can really be a bad one.-Paul Brunton
It just so happens Adam, that was the topic of our meeting yesterday ... we started off on gratitude but the 2nd person to share was there working off a 'hang-over' ... 2 years of sobriety, 'one foot in and one foot out' of AA, then he came down hard ... drank again and found himself in jail this last weekend ... of course we welcomed him back with open arms and many, many (((((hugs))))) ... ... ...
I'm beginning to think I may have found my new 'Home Group' ... yea!!! ... I still miss my old group terribly, but there's good AA to be found everywhere if we look hard enough ...
The key Adam, is to get fully involved with a 'Home Group' and start helping others as soon as we are 'spiritually fit' enough to do so ... it only makes our sobriety foundation more solid ... and THIS makes our 'shield' against the next drink thicker and stronger ...
Love ya man and God Bless,
Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Great topic. I haven't been able to put 90 days together for close to four years now, and part of that is definitely not having meetings available, and knowing but not practising the program. Your post brought that home to me. So thank you,
I think this is what he was referring to Susan ...
Image February 24, 2014
Quote of the Week
"If you stay in the middle of this program, it's hard to fall off the edge."
I don't know about you, but I see them. People who come to meetings late, sit near the door, smoke outside during the meeting, jet out the door right after the meeting. These people scare me because they seem to be half in the program and half out. One foot out the door as they say. That's a scary and dangerous place to be.
When people who have gone out come back in (those who make it back in, that is), they all tell a familiar story: "I drifted away. First I stopped working with a sponsor, then I stopped taking commitments, then I went to less and less meetings. Before I knew it, I had a cold beer (or glass of wine) in my hand." And their stories all go downhill from there.
I was taught early on in my recovery that I needed to stay in the middle of the pack. The lion called alcoholism picks off the outside stragglers, but I'm safe if I stay in the middle. Today I still arrive early to meetings and speak to newcomers. I sit at the very front of meetings so I'm not distracted, and I take on commitments so I'm forced to show up even when I think I don't need to. Because of this I feel I'm in the middle, and I feel much better there than on the edge. I hope you do, too.
Please Pass it On!
Copyright @ 2014 Michael Z
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Great topic. I haven't been able to put 90 days together for close to four years now, and part of that is definitely not having meetings available, and knowing but not practising the program. Your post brought that home to me. So thank you,
Susan in Tashkent
Hi Susan,
Just wanted to offer a little hope to you. While meetings are nice and helpful, they are not essential to recovery. If you study the Big book carefully, you will see it is written specifically for the isolated hopeless alcoholic. "Though you be but one man with this book..."
The book suggests support may come from a doctor, and or spiritual adviser in order to carry out the steps and achieve a consious contact with the God of our understanding. Once we have tapped into that power, we can then actively seek out still suffering alcoholics to help. With modern technology, if none are present where you are, we can work on line to carry the message through forums like this, or AA Loners International.
All around the world AA has started with one person and the Big Book. The meetings were a bonus that came later.
"Thus we grow. And so can you, though you be but one(person) with this book in your hand. We believe and hope it contains all you will need to begin.
We know what you are thinking. You are saying to yourself: "I'm jittery and alone. I couldn't do that." But you can. You forget that you have just now tapped a source of power much greater than yourself. To duplicate, with such backing, what we have accomplished is only a matter of willingness, patience and labor.
