Faith Without Works

I am not a Bible person. What I mean is that I have read certain passages but
could never quote any one of them book and verse. I am also not the type of Big
Book person who can hear a few words and recite the exact page or how many times
the words were used within the book. And so when I say that the phrase "faith
without works is dead", I am fairly sure I am paraphrasing a quote from the
Bible that became the mantra for action in the early years of Alcoholics
Anonymous (and I believe that it was Lois Wilson, Bill W.'s wife that brought
those words to life).

Within the past two years that I have been writing as the 12 Step Recovery
Editor for BellaOnline, I have talked about sponsorship more than a few times. I
talk about it often because I truly believe that the numbers of people who
sponsor are far too few for the number of people needing sponsors. I don't think
it is that many recovering alcoholics/addicts don't want to sponsor, I think
they are afraid to sponsor. And isn't that just old demon "fear" still hanging
around telling us we are not good enough or strong enough?

Since none of us graduates from a 12 Step program, time in recovery means
something but not everything. It depends on the person. I have heard 19 year old
newcomers speak with the wisdom of much older persons with years and years of
sobriety. Comfort in sponsoring sometimes has a lot to do with the education and
career. It might be easier for a teacher to sponsor than it is for a computer
programmer ("easier" meaning comfort level). If you are waiting for a spiritual
experience to tell you are ready to sponsor, you are probably going to wait a
while. I know there are many fellowships that want a person to wait at least one
year before they become a sponsor. If all of the early AA folk waited for a
year, there probably would not be a program for us today.

If you have gone through all of the steps at least once with a sponsor, go to
meetings on a regular basis, and can see your own recovery as being progress,
you are ready to sponsor. My own suggestion is that you don't seek out newcomers
in the sense that they feel intimidated but introduce yourself to them, talk to
them, and give them your phone number. If they need a sponsor and it is God's
plan that they choose you, then they will.

I actually didn't begin this article to write about sponsorship as much as the
overall action we all must take to help others. We can pray, meditate, go to a
meeting every day, and maybe we even help out before and after a meeting. Sounds
like we're doing the deal, right? Personally, I think everyone needs to do more
than that. If we truly are working Step 12, we are doing more than making coffee
for a meeting. Our Higher Power sure loves that we pray, mediate, turn our will
over to Him, take care of ourselves, are working hard to live life on life's
terms, and being the best we can be. But if we are not taking all of that faith
we have in our Higher Power, in ourselves, and in recovery and doing something
for others, we are probably practicing a most selfish type of faith.

Perhaps for whatever reason you honestly can't sponsor. I do know there are
reasons why someone might want to sponsor but cannot. There are so many other
ways you can put your faith into action. Here are a few suggestions that are
workable for just about anyone: find meetings in your area that have a number of
attendees from half-way houses, sober-living facilities, or those who are
homeless. These are not always listed in the meeting schedule printed in your
area but can be found by contacting St. Vincent's, the local National Council on
Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCADD) or contact the facility and find out if
the meetings are open to anyone. The reason why these are important is that most
of those people are desperately trying to recover from alcohol, drugs, etc. and
there is no one with any length of sobriety attending the meetings. If you have
been sober for even a few months, you can support these folks by sharing your
experiences, strengths, and hopes at a meeting.

Volunteering is always a great thing and it doesn't necessarily have to involve
addicts. There are a multitude of organizations that need help. The important
thing is that you find one that you believe in and stick with it. Your own AA
district may also need help. Oftentimes there is a call for volunteers to answer
the phones in our Central Office or to put meeting books together. You don't
have to wait for someone to put the call out.

Honestly, the reason I am focusing on "faith without works is dead" and reaching
out to others is that I have found myself in a position I never was in before.
There are also a multitude of others out there just like me: unemployed,
recovering, and wondering how to get through it all. The only way, I discovered,
was to get out of myself, be grateful for what I had, and be of service to
others in some way.

The other choice is to sit at the computer all day looking for a job, feeling
totally frustrated and alone and don't you just feel the self-pity? I met a
woman recently who had relapsed after a number of months as was her pattern. She
said she couldn't possibly help anyone else when she couldn't even stay sober
herself. Isn't that exactly why we do get out there and help someone? It is not
for me to tell her what she should and should not do, but if you are feeling
fragile in your sobriety, get out there and begin giving what you were so freely
given. Putting your faith in action will come back to you in many ways. It is
one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Namaste'. May you walk your journey in peace and harmony.