This past weekend was a retreat for some of us. I know it was for me. I really got a lot out of it. Glad I went.
What was so interesting for me were the examples I got to witness of what this program has meant to so many of us over time. There were some, who had long time sobriety. Some medium. And some, who were definitely “new”. Taught me a lot.
And, what was so interesting was the striving to live a spiritual way of life. Being able to listen and look around the rooms was really an inspiration for me. I was able to talk to and listen to those who were in a “good place”, and those who were struggling. The latter helped me so much.
Over time in this program I have learned to grow from what has been given to me by those who seem to be struggling. I’m never sure that anything I might think I’m giving to these people is helpful. But I do know that as I walk away I have gained so much. Never seems to fail. I have, it seems, always been given a gift. Peace and happiness. I always have to be grateful to my Higher Power and all those who have helped me in here.
One thing I seem to be able to grasp, when slowly involved in these retreats, is how I need to step aside from my own enlarged ego. Just what those old timers helped me to do, when they would knock me off my intellectual platform and perforate my over sized balloon ego.
I am so grateful for what they had the courage to do for me. And these meetings have helped me to be quiet and step aside from myself.
Overtime I have learned to laugh at myself, but always to continue to do what I have learned in here. To hopefully be of service to those I know I need to freely give what I was so freely given. It allows me to learn over and over again that I’m not all that important, but what I am able to do is.
And what is that? To hopefully give to others what was given to me. How this program has helped me to stay sober a day at a time. Also how my life has been enriched within, by doing this. Peace, a new freedom and a new happiness. Hope, faith, love, and serenity. Also a restoration to sanity, and a wonderful spiritual awakening. All because I was able to learn a little of what was so freely given to me by my old sponsor and those old timers. I need to thank them and my Higher Power for all I have received.
Anyway I was given all of this by being able to attend this retreat.