Today, listening to some friends, who called and a few who came up to me and talked, I found it difficult to do anything but listen and in the end try to say something in support and encouragement.
What do I to say to someone, who just had a car repossessed for lack of funds and a family to support? To a man, who just had his contract canceled, who also has a family in distress?Someone, who is being harassed, to the breaking point?
Then one man reminded me that AA was founded in the 1930s, when we were in the midst of the Great Depression, followed by World War II. All those hundreds of men and women got sober in spite of those events and most stayed sober. Times were really hard back then. I remember them well, growing up back then and really admire those who stayed faithful to his program and didn’t pick up a drink.
Life can be difficult at times. Experience has taught me that. But I’ve also learned that if I will continue to try to practice this program, work the Steps, ask for help from my fellow alcoholics and my higher power, go to meetings, and try to work with another suffering alcoholic, I can stay sober. And then to remember that this too shall pass. It always does.
There’s nothing a drink can make better. All I have to do is see and hear alcoholics, who have returned to the program after having gone back out. None of their lives have gotten any better. In fact, if anything, worse for that trip back into active alcoholism. And then there are those, who never are able to get back. I don’t have any plans for going there. I want to stay sober.
It’s the Serenity Prayer all over again. What I can do and what only God can do. Do I have the wisdom to know what is what?
Talking to a sponsor, or an old timer, who has been down this road, can help me to maybe understand what the wisdom I need is. And, of course, my higher power to whom this prayer is addressed.
There are a lot of bumps and pitfalls in our lives. Anyone with any time can testify to that. But there is always a solution. And the solution is the same solution we found, which released so many of us from the bondage of alcohol. It’s spiritual. And it begins with the 2nd Step. That doesn’t mean to just sit around after asking for the help. If there’s footwork to be done, then it has to be done.
Patience may be a virtue, but it is often a necessity. I was told that answers come not on my time or schedule. But one thing is certain. Nothing is worth a drink. Our bottoms should tell us that.