Talking to an old timer last night and in a reading this morning, I was reminded of what it is that keeps this program alive and well. It’s us. The we of this program. The me that makes up the we and the us.
What is it? It’s the willingness to do my part. To get out of the chair and go out on a 12th Step call, if I get the opportunity. We were talking last night about a man we knew back a few years ago, who is now carrying the message to the jail in his town. I know several people up here, who do that. They volunteer. They’re willing to give freely of themselves to carry the message to those who suffer. The message that there is a solution to their alcoholic problem.
This program is dependent on members giving of themselves for all sorts of needs of what has to be done in order to keep moving it forward and taking care of the necessities. I can remember very well the kinds of things which were asked of us, and having to overcome reluctance on my part. To come up with the willingness to do for others. Didn’t come naturally to me. But I know it’s part and parcel of the spiritual life and sobriety.
Doing service work is not always attractive. It’s often ego deflating. Humbling ones self. It’s not running the show. It’s taking on the highest office any of us can aspire to in this program. As Sandy B. said, that’s the office of servant.
The value of this service is that we’re all still here. It’s part of that 1st Tradition. AA unity. Sharing ourselves. Myself for the good of the whole. In the past I learned all of this from my sponsor and those old timers. They didn’t just encourage me, they got behind me and pushed me into service. Making coffee, cleaning up, taking on the offices offered to us. Going out to prisons, and mental institutions, hospitals, community organizations anonymously. And of course, 12th Steps calls.
All this is what built up my love and enthusiasm for this program. I see others in this process today. Building up their love and enthusiasm. My wish is that more would participate in this process. Not only gaining these virtues for themselves, but reinforcing their sober lives and their spiritual lives. The maintenance of their spiritual conditions. If nothing else, the awareness.
But that’s just my thinking. A manner of thinking, which I was given by those, who preceded me. I am grateful for those men and women, who pushed and prodded me into action. It was a great learning experience and it helped me greatly to stay sober.
Like I said, just thinking…about sobriety.