Hey Don! Just about a month ago ,a friend of ours who had been clean for over a year(but chronic relapser) went back out and it became very obvious to us.I was taking him to meetings and told him I would not give him $$$ but did give him Venison and canned goods I had and told him Im available if he needed help. I was away for awhile and when I came back I was asked to share at an H&I meeting at a Turning Point facility and lo and behold there was our friend.We hugged ,I shared and we talked of how two other recovering addicts, that lived in same tenement, had taken him to the clinic and helped get him admitted.He is still clean and working recovery,though sporadically and we continue to pray for his total emotional acceptance of utter surrender..No doubt the therapeutic value of one addict helping another is definitely without parallel. I know I was placed there in that facility by God's plan and though was not a direct instrument in getting W there I was able to carry a message of hope and hug someone who was in dire need..I definitely received the gift!!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Been on a few, never on the receiving end. My experience? Service to others helps keep me Clean! Doesn't matter the results of the person being 12th stepped, we are but messengers. (well the results matter, but the results are not in our hands)
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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
The most memorable 12th step call I've been on is when I was asked by another member to meet her at a meeting here in my town because she was bringing a newcomer. That particular meeting is one I never normally go to but I said I would be there. It happened to be a birthday meeting in which my sponsor (whom just passed) was celebrating and I got to be a part of (selfish =) The newcomer is now a great friend and we go to a couple of meetings a week together..
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Carrying the message of hope and freedom from active addiction to the addict who still suffers.
A 12th step call i used to do on a guy on a regular basis was at a liquor store I would stop at near my house to get cigarettes.
He was always hanging out there getting handouts for change and one time I offered to take him to a meeting, he wanted nothing to do with it so I offered to buy him a beer afterwards if he'd go, he wouldnt take a beer, nor a 6 pack or even an 18 pack he wanted nothing to do with getting sober .
I could hardly believe he was that resistant, he just wanted me to buy him a beer, take him home so he could sleep so I did that and we talked, he invited me into his home and we spent an hour talking me telling him my ESH.
A few months ago I saw him his face had just been slashed by someone with a knife, the wound went from his temple down to his jaw, someone hurt him bad and I haven't seen him since that day. Something in me said that that man was near death, it was quite sad, he was a nice guy he just had an extreme amount of pain from betrayal of his wife cheating on him and leaving him with one of his friends he was alcoholic and didnt want to feel that pain, thats what he told me. And so we die IF we choose not to face our fears and have enough humility to throw ourselves down and surrender and try desperately to save our lives.
