If you’ve ever had cold water thrown in your face, you probably can remember the feeling. Or, if not, you probably can guess what it’s like. It’s a shock to the system and it gets your attention. It’s not pleasant. But if you want conciousness, this will do it.
I was talking to a young man at the meeting today and he recounted that feeling. He said that he had gone back out and the result was just like a cold glass of water being thrown in his face. The experience woke him up. He said he ran back to the program and has been doing whatever it takes to achhieve sobriety. No more taking things for granted anymore.
I need to hear this kind of story. It woke me up, just like it did him. It was like a “rude awakening”, as Bill put it in As Bill Sees It. He said, “How many of us would presume to declare, ‘ Well, I’m sober and I’m happy. What more can I want, or do? I’m fine the way I am.’ We know that the price of such self -satisfaction is an inevitable back-slide, punctuated at some point by a very rude awakening. We have to grow or else deteriorate. For us, the status quo can only be for today, never for tomorrow. Change we must; we cannot stand still.”
I was reminded by our conversation to get off the dime and move on. I need to be grateful for such an opportunity. And, I am.
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