One of the things, which came up today was the consequences of our drinking. What effect these had on others and what the results were for each one of us, when we came in and got sober.
One of the members spoke about this. He apparently is reasonably new and is suffering from what it did to his family. Most of us, who have been around a long time knew exactly what he was talking about, because in one way or another we all have been there. The problem is that in the early days it is pretty difficult to stomach. And may be that way for a period of time. In fact he mentioned the sign over the door that time takes time.
The group talked about their own difficulties with pretty much the same thing and how the 12 Steps and the program began to change us and how we felt. In other words the group was really practicing the Fifth Tradition. Carrying the AA message to the alcoholic, who still suffers.
Moreover, the group was adhering to the long form of that Tradition, which says the group ought to be a spiritual entity, whose primary purpose is to carry the AA message to the alcoholic, who still suffers. And, as that spiritual entity, it was saying exactly that, the solution is spiritual in nature.
This all came out, as each “old timer” told how the change, as long as we owned our actions, which led to these hard consequences, began to not only change us into a better person, one with peace and serenity, and the willingness to help others, to assist our families and our fellow workers, when we could, but our sobriety began to help those, who were affected by our alcoholism.
Included in the discussion was, not just the First Step, but the Second, coming to believe and have hope and faith in a power greater than ourselves. Some said they began with belief and faith in the group they were in. Others the program itself. But whatever they believed in, which made sense to them, it helped lift them out of the problems they were suffering from. And, as they went through the Steps, they began to have that spiritual awakening, which took away the insanity of alcohol and the desire to drink.
It was one of those meetings, which brought out the proof that we will not regret the past or wish to close the door on it. Proof that all that awful stuff had turned into pure gold for the recently sober alcoholic.
Most people afterward came up and told me how glad they were to be at that meeting and to hear what they heard. Me too.