I was thinking about enthusiasm and hope. Over time I have heard some long time members make comments to relatively new people in sobriety, saying how they envied the new people their newly acquired hope and the enthusiasm they display in finding this program. They tell these people how they can remember their own early days and how filled with hope they were back then and how much enthusiasm they had in those early days. Does that mean that they no longer have hope and enthusiasm for this program and their sobriety?
For myself, hope is still a keystone in my own sobriety. I too can remember how I was given hope, when I came in. But that hope became a faith for me, as I saw the evidence of this program working in my life and the lives of those around me. However, hope didn’t stop there. Early on I was told about the four steps in the spiritual life. First is perseverance; hanging in despite all obstacles. That hanging in and not letting go leads to hope. And hope leads to faith and faith leads to love. Lose one of those along the line and we lose all four of these steps.
I think that perhaps some people aren’t aware of what they have, when something new and fresh appears to them. To me, again, what I see is that these long timers have all four of these steps; perseverance, hope, faith, and love. They’re still here and have long sobriety a day at a time. My thought is that it is evidence of a spirituality that is sustaining their sobriety.
Now what about enthusiasm? Just bring up gratitude as a topic and there it is. And just maybe the enthusiasm is more contained by the serenity and peace that comes over time and application of these spiritual principles.
Perhaps what these men are really doing is trying to encourage the newcomers to hang in and foster that hope we all need.
Anyway, I was thinking about this the last few days. Actually thinking about perseverance, hope, faith, and love. Love of this program and my sobriety. But love of other alcoholics and wanting them to succeed in achieving sobriety and living this wonderful way we have all found through this program. And, just so I won’t forget, love of my higher power, who has enabled me to stay sober.