OKaysez

 

Made A Decision 

  Taking Our Show on the Road

The first thing we learn in AA is how to behave in a meeting. 

We quickly are taught not to interrupt others when they are speaking (cross talk), but when it's our turn we can - and do - reference their stated problems, by offering program answers that have worked for us (cross sharing). 

(Cross talk - bad. Cross sharing - good).

We learn in meetings and from our sponsors how to love one another, how to look out for one another, how to first care for our group members and then for AA members everywhere. 

It soon becomes very easy to look out for one another inside the rooms of AA, but eventually we have to take some of that recovery into our homes and society.

 Many of us talk a good talk "around the tables" of AA, but then go home and shout ugly things at our partners and children. 

That has to stop and, as we work our program to the best of our ability, it eventually will.

When we smile at our AA group members, leave the meeting and within minutes are unkind to a fellow shopper or clerk, we still have some growing up to do.

Because no one is in our life by accident. 

Everyone we meet - from the postman delivering our mail, to the local butcher, baker and all those candlestick makers - are all here to teach us something about ourselves. 

The world doesn't need any more  of our anger. It needs love if there is going to be any kind of healing for our species and for our planet. And that love begins with each and every one of us as we take what we've learned in AA out into the world. 

We are all - every one of us - tasked with loving our world and everything and everyone in it. This is especially important in these times of escalating strife and political upheaval. 

We must practice "the discipline of kindness" to feel our best about ourselves. 

It can help if we start to see our world as our Father's house, and to think of all the people we meet as guests in that house, people we too will treat with respect. 

The same is true of our world. It, too, is our Father's house. Just as we wouldn't throw garbage around our Father's living room, we should perhaps not contribute to others having to walk knee deep in plastic wrappers (or dog crap) in our streets. 

When we want to be of service, both inside and beyond AA, we contribute to making our program, and our world, a better place. 

The first part of the word "civilization" is "civil."  Our fellowship, and even our civilization, can end if we all think only of ourselves. 

We in recovery have a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the well-being of the world. We have found the answer to our own greatest problem and know it is not found in buying more stuff, shaming people on social media, or becoming more and more cynical through non-stop watching of the 24/7 news cycle. 

The answer we have found in AA is all about love - self-love and love of others. 

And it's also about service.

In recovery we learn to love ourselves enough to stay sober.  We learn to love our fellow AA members and want them to succeed in staying sober. We learn to pray for those we find it hard to like. We learn to love AA and to want to contribute to it through our service for its continuance. 

As our hearts expand in love we continue to send it outward, from AA to our families, our neighbors, our community, our world.  

And "Boy Howdy," (Southern USA expression) does the world ever need some of it right now!

Do we appreciate our unique opportunity to be of service? Or are we always focused on staying busy with our own concerns? 

Do any of the following sound familiar?"

"I'd do more service work in AA, but I don't have the time."

"I'd take the kids to the beach (park/woods/movies) more, but I have to work."

"I wish I could join and contribute to Earth Extinction (World Wildlife Fund/my Political Party/Cancer Society/homeless relief project/local women's shelter, the Humane Society/the National Trust, etc. etc.), but I'm too busy."

Here's the thing about making time:

If you heard your name announced on your local radio station as the winner of a fat cash prize - as long as you showed up to collect it at the station by 5 p.m. on that day - you'd find the time to get there!

 Or if one of your family members were suddenly injured, you'd "find the time" to get them the medical attention they needed.

Or if you smelled smoke in the house you'd quickly find the time to tear yourself away from that computer solitaire game to find the cause.

We can always "make time" for things we feel are important. 

And, as part of that effort, there is always something we can do for others; and in that doing we increase the value of our own life. 

Helping others in any capacity also helps keep us sober.