Funny thing today. One person wanted to talk about being disturbed, while another sitting behind me said they were still wrestling with the First Step. Few if any responded to the First Step person. Most wanted to talk about the Serenity Prayer.
I had no problem with people wanting to talk about not being disturbed and the power of the Serenity Prayer in their lives. However, even though I agreed, I felt I had to speak to something about the person wrestling with that First Step. The “disturbed person” had some time in and was working with his sponsor.
The one behind me, I had no idea. However I did want to speak to the need to surrender and accept the First Step. I felt time was going to take time with the young person and disturbance. A moment to deal with the Fifth Tradition seemed appropriate. To carry the message to the alcoholic, who is still suffering.
Once again the quote from the Ninth Step came to mind. The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. Makes sense to me. So I had a few words to try to get the person wrestling with that First Step to surrender. I can never ever forget how it was for me, when I found I could turn my being possessed by alcohol over to my Higher Power and be freed from slavery. It worked and I wanted it to work for this young person. Hopefully…but who knows?
Anyway I had to stop and think about this now. I just wanted to let it run within me and reach a moment of peace. I have no idea what the result was, but I do know it helped me to accept the quiet gift I was given. I am grateful each and every time I’m given the opportunity to freely give what was so freely given to me by old timers.
It always brings up the reason of why I am here to begin with. To stay sober a day at a time. To always try to be where my feet are and not where my head wants to take me. To be right here and no place else. I’m so grateful for all the examples I have been given by those old timers and my sponsor, which changed my life for the better. Need to say thanks to them and my Higher Power.