Recently, I was recalling my experiences back when I started to contemplate surrendering my drinking habits. I certainly was aware of the negative effects of my drinking on my family and knew its continuation would worsen the situation. But I also knew it was important that I make the decision of whether or not I surrender.

Then when I did start attending meetings, I of course met people who were in the early stages of fighting their addictions and then others who had been working the Program for various lengths of time. I started to see in these folks a happiness and growing positive attitudes to life itself which I lacked. I learned early that beating Mr. alcohol requires a day-by-day effort. So, when I surrendered and committed to the Program, I knew I must work the Program daily if I was going to get what they had.

They shared with me the paths they were traveling. I saw that this “working the Steps” they all talked about was a way to not only rid oneself of the desire to drink but provided new ways of dealing with one’s every-day encounters.

I was soon experiencing a growing feeling of union with the Program.

There was a confidence that “answers to problems” can be found, that the past was past and couldn’t be changed, and that the way was open to change things that could be changed.

Something else appeared to me: “In all matters, when in doubt, ‘keep coming back’; you’ll find the answers.”

I especially liked the “ten-minute leads” presented by persons whose names were drawn from a hat at the start of a large Saturday evening meeting. In my early days, smoking was permitted but gladly finally stopped, an important move as so many meetings were held in church basements with little ventilation. And those Thanksgiving banquets and the “countdowns” by years of one’s sobriety grabbed my heart in a spiritual manner.

Sponsors! … Everyone “had one” and I saw that it was important to team up with the right person, one who would hold on and guide you as you walked the Steps. People talked about writing an “inventory of those we had harmed” and “making amends” where appropriate. This Step seemed emotionally hard; the reality of undertaking the process was clearly outlined in so many spots in AA literature, and it was a popular topic in discussion meetings. I came to believe it wasn’t always a negative experience but one where amends could re-cement relations. And as time passed, I began to see to see how it was important to “carry the message.”

Perhaps the strongest thing I remember is that I saw how the Program itself, the Big Book, and all the rest of it, how all of it came about when these two total strangers, a New York City stockbroker and an Akron medical doctor, came together on a Sunday afternoon in an Akron Ohio Gatehouse.

Remember? … The Akron guy told his wife,” OK, I’ll go, but I’m leaving in 30 minutes!” Instead, these two strangers talked into the evening, and the New York fella moved into the home of the doctor for weeks and weeks talking about what they were learning from simply talking with one another … nothing more, no outside consultants, just two alcoholics talking.

I believe these two alcoholics came together because a power greater than themselves had brought them together and challenged them to come to grips with their own alcoholism in a simple but until then in an unknown way … just two alcoholics talking to each other.

 Bill and Dr. Bob reached out to one another just as Christ reaches for us every moment…no questions asked for all are welcome to learn the Steps and see and find the love of Christ, to live one’s life without retreating to demon rum and its cruel forest of alcoholism, and to find and live our lives embracing the love of Christ.

Jim A, St X Noon