This was an almost perfect reflection of the Fifth Tradition today. The entire group was focused on a fairly new person. The intention was almost perfect. To carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. The AA message, which for the most part it was. I know it was good for me and so many others I heard sharing.
The long form of that Tradition states that the group ought to be a spiritual entity. Meaning a spiritual being or existence of spirituality making the presentation. It’s not complicated. But it does speak to what our Twelfth Step is all about. Carrying a spiritual message to the alcoholic who is suffering. Whether a new person, or sometimes a long time sober individual who is suffering from the weight of some problem. At sometime or other I think we all have been in touch with both of these needs in our lives.
My take on all of this was that the person was being given a gift in way that goes back a long time ago. There was a time when a person was recognized as being new and the whole group would assume the process of delivering the AA message to this person. I think that was what my first meeting was about, although there was no announcement I was new. My guess looking back was that the man, who was the AA contact for the person who took me to my first meeting had probably told the group and it just happened.
That first meeting of mine filled me with so much hope it is almost still present when I think about it. It was the first time I had heard what had happened to each individual to get them sober and what happened after they did and how much their lives had changed and how they had grown in this program. And, of course, that was pretty much what was being handed to the person today. Still gives me hope to hear these stories.
The main thing for me is that I know what is being told is true. These people we were listening to have been free of the bondage of alcohol for the most part quite a bit of time in here. For me hearing these stories is always reinforcement. It tells me what I know and need to hear from time to time. That this program works. It has for me and to know that others are here and helping not just the new person, but myself, as others like me.
Anyway I had to be grateful to these people and the program for what was going on. I know that my Higher Power was there for me today and the young man and everyone else in the room. It was all about today. That was mentioned any number of times that we’re sober just for today. Each and everyday. One day at a time. Made me grateful and I know I owe a lot of thanks.