An Ocean of Grace

Practically every A.A. member declares that no satisfaction has been deeper and no joy greater than in a Twelfth Step well done. To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness to light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled, to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in full citizenship, and above all to which these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives --- these things are the substance of what we receive as we carry A.A.’s message to the next alcoholic.

TWELVE STEPS AND

TWELVE TRADITIONS

(p.110)

*****

My first weeks of sobriety were full of wonder as the obsession to drink was lifted; and, experiencing a taste of the awakening to come, I hungered to pass on this joy to all my drinking buddies. Most nodded in agreement that I had found something good for me but they weren’t ready, or didn’t want, whatever I had discovered. Some even yawned, having tried AA before. These had tried so hard and failed… they turned away and stopped coming around. Others were eager to try but somehow couldn’t get motivated. I dragged them to meetings but it did no apparent good. I realized through my failures that I needed to work on myself before I could affectively pass on to others what I had found.

            After those attempts, I came to understand that I could be more useful doing the little things around the Fellowship; like cleaning the coffee pots after meetings… greeting at the door… making myself available for rides to meetings and simply extending an open hand. The open hand that once took from others was transformed into an open hand that gives. I now swim in an ocean of grace that inspires, encourages and motivates rather than evangelizes.

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