Editorial for July 2019

Audio Version 

Dear Reader

Welcome to our July edition featuring members experience, strength and hope around prisons.

Bill W. wrote, "Every A.A. has been, in a sense, a prisoner. Each of us has walled himself out of society; each has known social stigma. The lot of you folks has been more difficult: In your case, society, has also built a wall around you. But there isn't any really essential difference, a fact that practically all A.A.'s now know.

Therefore, when you members come into the world of A.A. on the outside, you can be sure that no one will care a fig that you have done time. What you are trying to be-not what you were-is all that counts with us." (As Bill Sees It p.234)

Towards the end of my drinking, if I heard a siren when asleep, I would sit bolt upright, be drenched in sweat and be convinced that 'they' were coming for me. I can add to that, in so many incidents when, "But for the Grace of God" I could have been in serious trouble.

Alcoholics Anonymous has been continuously present in UK prisons for more than 50 years. We have had a great response to our request for articles relating to prison and we hope that you find this edition of SHARE helpful.

Tradition Seven and, 'Passing the pot' is for me, a very important part of AA. It teaches me that I need to be responsible for my group if the group is to survive. Like most of us, I didn't do much responsibility when drinking, loading any responsibility onto others as quickly as I could. But in AA we learn that if we are to have the benefits that a weekly meeting has on our sobriety then it is down to us to ensure that the rent is paid.