I am 44yrs male,1month dry 1month into recovery.I travel a lot mainly in Europe.I would like to find an online sponsor from feb 2011.I attend meetings in uk at the moment but do have issues with 12 steps but believe in the fellowship and the fact that i need the support it offers .if anyone is out there who feels they could take on being the sponsor of an atheist/sceptic online please get in touch for a chat,thanks for reading this gelatojohn
Hi John, Welcome to the Miracles In Progress NA focused forum.
You don't have to believe in God to find recovery in the NA Program. My experience and that of countless other recoverying addicts indicates believing in some power greater than ourselves is necessary for any ongoing recovery. That Power might be the NA Program with thousands and thousands of Clean Addicts worldwide as proof the NA Program works, addicts who by and of ourselves could not stay Clean. Your Higher Power could be a rock to hit yourself up side the head. Whatever. Our best thinking and actions brought us to NA, my best thinking and my ways of (mis)managing my life through active addiction brought me to NA. It sounds like your best thinking has brought you here too. Give yourself a break and let yourself come to believe your best thinking may not be all it's cracked up to be. Maybe some of these tens of thousands addicts with many many years Clean time aren't all full of holier than thou crap.
Can you honestly answer whyyou are looking for an online sponsor? You have local meetings. Is there no one with even a year Clean that will agree to be your sponsor? Are they all full of God of their understanding crap so you're looking for an online sponsor instead who will agree with how you think?
As addicts we always want an easier softer way. Suck it up, doesn't exist. If you want what we have to offer, freedom from active addiction and a better way of life, the NA Way is what works for us. Not just the parts we thought we liked when we got here. At some point we had to be willing to surrender our egos to something, anything greater than ourselves and recovery was then possible.
I'm a 56 year old male with 30 years Clean and I'm more than willing to offer you all the support I can via this forum. I am not willing to be your online sponsor unless there is absolutely no, nada, zero, zip possibility of a live person to person sponsorship because no one will agree to sponsor you in person, not because you won't ask.
We are sick people with the deadly disease of addiction. However, through rigorously working the program of NA our disease can be arrested and recovery is then possible. Give yourself a break, it works if you want it and are willing to work it.
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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
Thank you very much for your reply,firstly to clarifiy a couple of things I am starting to get my head round the higher power thing,and I like your idea of seeing the Fellowship as a higher power in itself,if that's wot you ment.secondly in reference to my wanting online sponsorship the reasons are practical I am in uk for recovery but my permanent home is not here .I don't quite have the language skills to do local groups everywhere I go and am investigating my options with that In mind.also the last thing I want is some sort of yes man or glorified pen pal .I need the support a sponsor offers but cannot think of another way but online.
I used to live and lived to use, did anything and everything necessary to stay loaded. Using controlled my life ahead of anything, everything and everyone.
I had to be just as willing to go to any lengths seeking recovery. Practicality had nothing to do with it. Have you tried getting a live sponsor? Someone you can work with in person as well as long distance via phone, email and online.
But my path is not your path. Glad you're here seeking recovery solutions.
Edit: I may come across as a hard ass at times. It's because I love you. It's because I've seen far too many addicts die who just couldn't surrender to the simple principles of the NA Program and instead kept looking for easier softer ways. Looking for an easier softer ways is our disease in action trying to take us down. Staying Clean and living the NA Way isn't about saving a job, or relationship, or holding on to material pocessions, it's about saving my life.
-- Edited by Mike M on Tuesday 4th of January 2011 11:23:10 AM
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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
