One of the things I learned in here was who it was that I needed to begin to respect and continue to help. It was a person I hated at first. An alcoholic, whom I knew didn’t deserve respect. And I really didn’t think I should help him. Yet, with the help of so many in here, he began to change. He was growing along spiritual lines, imperfectly, but obviously trying. He began to help others in here, who needed help. Hardly helpful at first in dealing with others, he began to be able to have good relationships. In fact he had begun to grow in love for others, though he had totally failed at that at first. I always have a chance each day to look at him and see how he’s really doing. I can witness that he really does try to stay sober each and everyday. Yet I have seen him stumble and trip over his old defects. However I have seen him get up and start his day over. He had learned that in here.
I definitely knew what it was that turned him around. And that was, after he had surrendered to that First Step one hundred percent, he was knocked over by an old timer and made to take that Second Step. I watched him beginning to pray, and knew he had accepted a Higher Power. Then I heard him tell others that he had learned in a meeting, that, if he wanted to learn to how to do that Third Step, he would practice the other nine Steps. And I watched him do that over time.
Anyway I needed to stop and think about him and this program today. I knew he had become a grateful member of this program. I also knew he had been restored to sanity. I also knew he had a spiritual awakening. He had achieved the great Promises in here.
Like I said, he’s not perfect, but I know he keeps trying. Oh, that’s right, I saw him earlier today, when I looked in the mirror.