Working with others is only the beginning of service work.
Basic Text, p. 59
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Were in recovery now. Through living the program, weve attained some stability in our lives. Our faith in a Higher Power has grown. Our individual spiritual awakening is progressing comfortably. So now what? Do we simply sit still and enjoy? Of course not. We find a way to be of service.
We tend to think of service only in terms of committee service or holding a position at some level, but service goes far beyond this understanding. In fact, we can find opportunities to be of service in nearly every area of our lives. Our jobs are a form of service to our communities, no matter what our occupation. The work we do in our homes serves our families. Perhaps we do volunteer work in our communities.
What a difference our service efforts make! If we doubt this, we can just imagine what the world would be like if no one bothered to be of service to others. Our work serves humanity. The message we carry goes beyond the rooms of recovery, affecting everything we do.
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Just for today: I will look for opportunities to be of service in everything I do.
There are many ways to be of service besides reaching out to other addicts. You can help a friend or family member, volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, donate clothing, food, or blood, and so on. Service work helps me grow, regardless of whether its service to addicts or not.
Loving the God of my understanding above all things and loving others as my God loves me always gives me opportunities to do "God's" will by reaching out to others. Managing a workshop for" people with disabilities" for over 32 years has helped remind me of humility,one of our first and early spiritual awarenesses. It is not like a job ,it is part of my life,sharing,growing and caring with others less fortunate than myself .Whenever feel like crying in my soup, just got to look around...Thank you God for allowing me to see your grace and to know the blessings You have brought me.When feeling "puffed up"the realization that it is because of my Higher Power's grace and mercy that allows giving and doing service with our population........My faith beliefs are tied so closely with our spiritual principles and NA allows me ,through daily work and action,to get ever closer to being all God intended me to be... Doing service for others definitely brings our Higher Power the glory and in turn helps us in our journey.....
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Had a neat experience a couple weeks ago. There's an older woman crack-head comes around the complex where my Roastery Coffeehouse is located. Cops have been called out on her in the past for peeing in public and that kind of thing. She was always talked to and just let go. This time she was seen inside of and rifling one of my barista's cars, he'd forgotten to lock it, and police were called. I arrived as police were taking statements, she was in the back of a squad car. I happened to have a local NA meeting schedule in my coat pocket, took the police sargeant aside and asked if he would put it in her personal affects if it was ok for him to do. He did.
While everyone in the coffee house was talking to each other about her in negative terms and making fun or her, I knew she was a sick person with bad actions not a bad person. But at the time and place it wasn't mine to preach to them, just to do what I could do to help her find her way if she wanted answers.
edit: Her being an active addict and getting arrested wasn't what was neat. I've held around 40 service positions to full term in my years Clean attending countless committee meetings etc. Indeed that is an important part of NA service. Only as it can further our primary purpose, to carry the message to the addict that still suffers. What was neat, for me, was being in the right frame of mind and spirit to think of the meeting schedule in my pocket and hear HP prompt me to give it to her.
-- Edited by Mike M on Friday 31st of December 2010 01:11:28 PM
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
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