It has been some time since I have had, or was it God, the inspiration to write.
Here it is on the Fourth of July and I am about to go to work to protect and
serve. I was thinking of our service people who daily do that type of work
including those who are willing to have the humility to share their experience,
strength and hope with other alcoholics or potential alkies. This humility deal
was never one of my ideas of the way to live to help others. It was usually all
about me. In particular I was at a meeting recently where the sharing was all
about the focus on "stuff". The sharing came from all types of folks, some with
long time sobriety and others with less time. What I was taught by my mentors in
AA was that nobody cares about what is happening with you or what "she" is
doing. What others want to hear is about the message of hope and how you got
there. In other words I was taught to talk about the use of the Steps and my
attempt at having a relationship with a God that I probably do not understand
and still try to believe in some Higher Power. This is what I attempt to do each
day and to pass it along to others. The attempt is always depending on the level
of humility I have at the moment. It the level is low then I am judging others,
their program and their life. If the level is other than low then I am able to
ignore what others are doing and share about my experience, strength and hope.
If however I do not have any experience with what I am being told then I have to
humble enough to not force some "words of wisdom". I have to continually rely on
whatever God's Will is for me and ask for His Guidance in my next action. This
is what keeps me physically, emotionally and spiritually sober today and for
that I am grateful. Have a Happy and Sober Fourth.



(Soberly submitted by Barry G. of Ventura, CA)
Barry.Goldstein@...