Just wanted to share a bit of recent events. I've been sponsoring a new person for a few months and it has been going really well for both of us. This guy is really eager to dive into the program of AA and has been showing great willingness to work the steps. So I just heard his fifth step a few days ago.
I've been sober for many years and I've sponsored quite a few people, but this guy's background is very different from mine, and I gotta admit that there was some concern on my part about whether my own experiences with alcoholism and sobriety would really be able to fully help this guy, especially when it came time for him to do his fifth step. I was concerned that the differences in our stories could end up negatively affecting my ability to do my part in helping him with his fifth step. I discussed this with my own sponsor beforehand, and of course he told me there was nothing to be concerned about, just listen, let your HP do the talking, etc.
And of course he was right. Although my sponsee's story and mine could not be more different on the surface, the sense of connection with another person, with humanity in general, and with a higher power that occurred for BOTH of us in this fifth step was perhaps greater than I have experienced in any other fifth step, mine or the other person's. It was a very powerful experience for both of us.
Thanks for share'n your experience with us here Dave ... 5th step is a bugger for sure and to me, indicates whether or not a person is serious about their recovery ... my first few times go'n through a 5th with my sponsees was certainly 'uncomfortable' at best ... however, the longer one remains in recovery, the more one appreciates the value this step means to the person lay'n everthing on the table ...
And one of the most important things to learn here, is hold'n everthing in private for the new comer ... things said and told 'in confidence' must remain confidentual ... (unless serious criminal issues were brought to light) ....
Thanks Dave, 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.'
Thanks Pappy! I'm off to my Wednesday nite meeting at a local rehab facility, where my sponsee and I met a few months ago. This is a very 'nuts & bolts" back-to-basics AA meeting with LOTS of new people and it's becoming one of my favorites.
Thanks for sharing, Dave and glad that you have such a great meeting to go to that you enjoy.
I am getting ready to do the 4th Step myself. I am a bit nervous about it. Meeting with my sponsor soon to read that chapter and go over what I need to do. This sponsor sounds more thorough than my first sponsor was, who requested me not to give the details about my sex life. I happily obliged and left that part out. I am going to have to do some research on that one. I want to get better, however, am pretty confused as to why that category (for lack of a better word) is even necessary. I was pretty wild in my younger days. I guess anything too personal I can talk to a clergy member or therapist. I am not a Catholic, however, may need to go to that little box with the priest (confession?) I'll prob. get kicked outta there!
Hey Ltr, ... I knew a guy once that went to a monastary and did his 5th step with a Monk ... after all, the book (step) sez 'God, ourselves, and another human being' ...
(something about the vow of silence thingy or something ... )
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
