Before the meeting today, a group of long, and a few old timers were talking, and what was said was that they felt that most meetings could be open to the First and maybe the Second Steps.
And the meeting today bore that out. Two new men, one for the first time, and the other, who had just stepped out of a rehab, introduced themselves, and the meeting was presented with the First Step.
I know for myself, after a very long time in here, that the thought of the First Step is almost present every day. And, like I said, quite a few talking today, admitted the same thing. Most of us have done the Steps over time in here, and have benefited from how they have helped us. But here we are staying sober a day at a time. And that is always a reminder of what is so important. And that is to turn our will and our lives over to our Higher Power and this program, as well as others, who need it.
We’re here to stay sober, right now. Always. Quit a few of us can remember others, who had spent time working this program, and had lost touch with the First Step, as time went on. In many of these cases they went back out and drank again. Some came back and admitted that they had lost touch with that First Step, and found out later on that they had never really committed to staying sober. Others said that they really didn’t know why they went out, except, as some stated, they didn’t feel they needed this program…until the moment they came back. They were suffering very much from alcohol and what it had done to them.
I know when I came in, there were no detoxes, no treatment places, no rehabs, very little, if any, physicians treating this disease. Few knew anything about AA back then. I know I didn’t. But a man I worked with, a former Marine Medic, who worked with the place I was working at, drank with me. And one day, just before I almost committed suicide from drinking alcohol, had been treating a patient, who smelled alcohol on him. The man turned out to be a member of AA. He told my friend about a place they had a meeting at, and he came and caught me as I was on my way to end my life.
He explained what he was told and said we could go to this place and get help, if we wanted it. We both did. And that pushed my despair aside and gave me hope. I went home and really prayed for the first time about this. I asked my God to relieve me of drinking and I would do anything He wanted me to do. I fell asleep and woke up the next day and the alcohol was gone. It has never really ever come back. I came in and got sober and have stayed sober ever since.
I learned about the First Step after I came in. And my old sponsor then opened me to the Second Step and that began this program for me. Never ever have forgotten either one. Very, very grateful.