There’s nothing like numbers to keep us safe. That hit me today. Safety in numbers. We were at a “chip” meeting for people celebrating their anniversaries.
What came to mind was that here were fellow alcoholics, who were examples of the solution we all have found. Evidence that this program works. They wanted this program and got freed from the bondage of alcohol. It was there for all to see and to have, if they too want it. Not much to be done for those, who do not.
That’s when I thought that there’s safety in numbers. Safety in these meetings. The number of people, who help us stay sober. The ones who carry the message there daily. They remind people like me of what it is I forgot and what it is I need to remember, to keep me safe. And by safe, I mean sobriety.
Then there’s the number Twelve. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. By employing these numbers to my life, I stay safe. Sober. It’s because of these that I have had a spiritual awakening, which keeps me free from alcohol daily. Not only that, but it helped to improve my relationships, so that I could get along with others. The most important being the others in the rooms with me.
The Twelve Traditions keeps all of us safe. The unity of this program and the directions to what needs to be practiced here daily. I need the meetings. Where would someone like me be, if not for the meetings?
There are of course the Twelve Promises. The rewards for living a sober life. The new freedom and happiness. Serenity and peace of mind. The absence of fear, which had been plaguing me for so many years. Fear of people and economic insecurity. Being able to live with my past comfortably. Being able to solve problems, which I failed to do before. And having a God of my understanding, who can do for me what I can’t do for myself. Talk about safety in numbers.
Anyway, these thoughts came to mind today.