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God is always there when we ask; I knew God had his hand in this divine plan to get us involved in something grander than ourselves. Moments later, up we trekked to one of the best vacations ever- Service was needed and given;
The lifeline was in place; spending the following 3 days and nights ensconced in the womb of love that AA has shown me again and again. By believing in the power greater than myself, I am shown where I can be most useful: I was asked to end the conference as the speaker- no coincidence...
I give my life to this program and I have received a heart filled to the brim with opportunities and gifts beyond my wildest!
Gratefully submitted by Lisa H
HAVE I RECOVERED?
I recently attended a workshop put on by a group whose meeting I had never attended. Many of the group’s regulars introduced themselves as “recovered alcoholics”. Through their shares it was obvious that they still considered themselves to be alcoholic, but that somehow recovery had taken place. I believe this concept comes directly from the forward to the first edition of the Big
Book., “We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition p. vii) Also Bill W. often used the word “recovered” in describing the status of sober drunks.
It may seem like quibbling over semantics, but I never wish to describe my recovery as a finished product. Yes, the obsession of the mind no longer plagues me. However, although I have not tested it in many years, I truly believe that the allergy of the body (craving) is alive and well and would be awakened by a single drink!
By the grace of God and the Twelve Steps, I no longer exhibit the manifestations of my disease – drunken sprees, the blackouts, etc., but in no way have I been cured. Perhaps a better term would be “in remission”. I believe an analogous situation would be someone with diabetes who, by proper diet, exercise, and daily medication, no longer experiences the signs and symptoms of the disease – diabetic coma, blindness, gangrene, etc., but that person would not consider themselves recovered. Like my alcoholism, there is a need for an ongoing program to maintain one in a recovery mode. Just like the diabetic, were I to slack off in the
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