Today was a difficult meeting for some of us. We talked about it after the meeting, and some even said we should have said what it is that we need not do, and what we should. The problem was that a lot of people talked about a God and a religion over and over again and again. How they had to stop believing and how they had to stop practicing.
One of the things, I know we learned early on in here, was that we had to discuss only the God of our understanding or a Higher Power. And specific churches or religions are not to be brought up either. Even concepts of non religious thinking or practices are out of the question.
All of this may be talked about outside of our group meetings, but not in here. AA meetings are about not drinking and being able to practice the Steps and the Traditions. Also learning to grow in the spiritual way of life in a general way. Of course we all need to be able to talk about getting sober to newcomers.
I know that we often have to talk about our beginning to think about stopping drinking and how to start practicing the First Step. Our being able to tell how this worked for each of us, and how this began to help us change our way of thinking and living. Then we can proceed to talk about the Second Step and how this also was what helped us change our way of living, and often saved our lives.
Of course I know that I have to go to meetings and be reminded of what it is I, and the rest of us, need to do. And the first thing is to be able to stay sober a day at a time. To once again to attend our meetings daily, if possible, or at least frequently, to learn to be encouraged to live this way of life. To practice these Steps and to continue to learn and also to be able to reach out and help others like ourselves to begin to get sober. To freely give what was so freely given to each of us. And to be grateful for all we have been given.