One of those things I often am caused to think about is working with others. The Twelfth Step preceded by the Step which saved my life. Step One.
Step One is the only Step for all of us, which is one hundred percent, as opposed to all the rest of them, which are at best imperfect. And, myself and others, believe that’s because we had to go all the way, because we were so desperate at the time. I know, in order to get sober, I had to totally surrender to the God of my understanding. And that’s what I try to carry to others like myself, who want to get sober or stay sober.
However I try at first to never go back to the difficulties I found with all the rest of these Steps. Instead I can always be able to talk to people who need it how I had to surrender to my being willing to get sober or else die from alcohol. And I never ever want to forget that moment in my life. It totally changed my whole life. It really set me free. And it’s that moment I try to relate to others, who need it.
And that always reminds me of how powerful that Twelfth Step is for we who share it and those who receive it. I’m so often reminded of the compassion that Step brings into me, when I am able to give what I can to others. Later, when I am able to look back at those moments, I often find myself caught up in freely giving love to others, without ever being able to think of it at that time.
Today at the meeting I was reminded of all of this, without ever touching on it in the meeting itself. in fact it was later on that it came into my thoughts. But it reminded me of why I am here. I’m here to stay sober a day at a time. But I have to be aware that the spiritual life in here has to be lived by myself and others. I’m not in charge. I’m here to do service. Like I learned, I have to freely give what was freely given to me. And I have to thank my Higher Power and all those old timers, my sponsor included, who have given to me this wonderful way of life. I am grateful, and hopefully able to express that in what I’m able to do in that Twelfth Step.