A fairly new man today reminded me of how much on target my old sponsor was. I really don’t know that much about the new man, but, if he is anything like me and a few others, who spoke today, then he’s either going to hit a new bottom, as we did, or he’s headed for trouble.
What my sponsor told me is that I didn’t know that I didn’t know. I only thought I did. How wise a man he was to see that in me. I was already balking at the program. The 12 Steps. I thought I knew everything and didn’t need to put them into action. I thought I knew enough to stay sober on my own.
I thank the God of my understanding for what my sponsor did for me. He got me to finally see the need of a Higher Power in my life. The One Who has all the power and knowledge I so desperately needed. It changed my life and got me on the right path. The path to sobriety and living a sober life.
I didn’t tell this young man that. I just told him that I hope he hurt enough to have hit bottom. Also that, if he wanted this program, he could have it. If not that there was a barroom next door.
One thing going in his favor is that he has a very strong sponsor. I know him and I know that his story is exactly like mine. I’m sure he will give this young man what he needs. If he will but listen. That’s what we had to learn. To put what we thought we knew outside the door and come in and listen to the truth.
Anyway, whatever it took all us to learn to listen, to surrender to the fact that we were powerless over alcohol, and then follow the suggestions we all hear in here, then he will survive and recover, just like we did. As one other young person said, just hearing that he was new threw her mind right straight back to the way she was, when she came in. It did the same for me. Always does.