I have had the privilege of working with many people in Alcoholics Anonymous. I have worked with all walks of life: male and female, rich and poor, young and old, believers and non believers, Christians, Jews and Muslims. I do the same thing with everyone - I always have the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous between them and me. I simply open the book and we begin reading at the preface. As we read the book we discuss the material. I don't change anything for anyone. The solution, a vital spiritual experience, is the solution regardless of what their problem may be in addition to their addiction. Obviously, if a person has mental problems then additional help is necessary for them. I never tell anyone what they must do - I just follow the material and incorporate the Twelve Steps as we move through it all: A practice that can be replicated by anyone.
I know that my behavior is being observed. Not just whether I can "talk the talk" but more importantly can I "walk the walk". Am I practicing the principles of AA? In the forward of The Twelve And Twelve it says, "The twelve steps are a group of principles, spiritual in nature, which if practiced as a way of life can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole."
The following is what my sponsees see in me: I am responsible. When asked to take someone through the book of Alcoholics Anonymous, I say yes. I never consider whether I have enough time... I simply just make it work. There isn't a greater exercise one can participate in than to help another recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Nothing. We meet once a week for an hour and I only cancel if I have an urgent family matter or if I am doing step work with another. My emotional state rarely, if ever, changes one week to the next as I am serene and at peace. I never prepare for a meeting as I am dependent upon and trusting in God. Again, I never tell another what they must do as it is their recovery. It is their relationship with God. I am the example, not the taskmaster.
When we live this life in AA we become happily and usefully whole. Let us share in this legacy.
Written By Armand
Written By Armand
Very well said, Armand. As the Big Book tells us, "frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives." There is no greater joy than taking someone else through the book and steps, and seeing the lights come on.
ReplyDeleteDan love when you wrote "no greater Joy."...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteI have personally witnessed and participated in sponsorship as you have so thoroughly iterated it in this post. One of the great benefits to both sponsor and sponsee is that the real work is done by The opened Book and the lack of judgement that follows. The Promises tell us that we will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. That Promise is fulfilled each and every time I read with a sponsor or sponsee. There is no intellectual explanation for that gift. For me, it is simply the way it should be done withou variance. Inside each of us is the desire to teach something of supreme values to another human being. In other words to give away that which has been so freely given to us.Thousands of people have thousands of opinions on the way in which we can recover from our hopeless state of mind and body. But there is only one program of recovery. The Big Book program we utilize in sponsorship.
ReplyDeleteMichael you wrote "lack of judgement." How true that is and how remarkable that it occurs...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteAs I've written many times before, one of the greatest blessings received and fondest memories recalled is to have been present when you first came to believe that God Himself is the ultimate author of the 12 steps of AA and then bear witness as you received Him and His gift to confidently confirm to others that the yearnings of every heart consumed by desperation, fear and trepidation can only be satisfied by a true spiritual conversion. The gift you received to fully apprehend God's revelation, that He personally and continuously reaches out to each and every one of His errant children with fiery passion and boundless love, no matter how far we have strayed from His Light, opened the door to the ultimate and ongoing Step Twelve gift that He desires that all be joint "sponsor's" of that plan.
I often pass by the small stone chapel where your miracle and ministry began and fondly recall that day we furtively entered as you prepared to execute your 5th Step; and as is my custom, to prayerfully guide us, in His Presence, through the 6th and 7th Step's. I knew the doors are rarely if ever open and its seldom if ever used, but that one day it was unlocked, warm and full of life. There truly are no coincidences in life. We were there by Divine appointment. Over time I watched as you took up His call with complete abandon. He has used your unique personality, talents, culture and experiances as an inspiration to a great many others desperately seeking the only true release from the seemingly inescapable internal prison of self.
My witness to that event and the continuing miraculous reality of its effects are as clear today as it was many years ago. The world is a far better place because you said yes to His invitation and have been faithful and true to His call. That calling, which undergirds Sponsorship in AA can be found in 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect". May God continue to richly bless His children through the ministry He has provided them through you and may you continue to recall and share His glorious intervention until you finally meet Him, face to face.,,
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic for us to receive a true spiritual conversion that you so eloquently wrote in your comment is a result of the integration of the 12 Steps of AA into our lives in such a way that they become our life. This integration occurs as a result of our complete surrender gifted to us by the grace of God...Thank you...Armand
DeleteAmen! I can only take others through the same process I went through with my sponsor, who was shown by you. Any other way would not be authentic. I firmly believe this program can only be transferred from one alcoholic to another, one on one. That is when the piece of God in each of us can make the spiritual connection and can communicate with each other. Each man I read the Book with is the same process, but each is a very unique experience. Sometimes there is success. Sometimes there is failure. Either way, I am a broken but blessed creature of our Creator for being a part of it.
ReplyDeleteJim truly a blessing to be a part of...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDelete