Dear Reader
Please can I draw your attention to the Share Subcommittee vacancies for Editorial Reader and Liaison Officers’ Coordinator which are advertised again in this issue. May I encourage your applications for these rewarding roles, while they remain vacant, vital article space is being lost! If you do not yet have the required sobriety or background service to apply, perhaps your sponsor or an AA friend does? Show them the relevant pages and spread the word because service keeps us sober!
I am experiencing a newly ignited gratitude for AA and my Programme following the death of a friend who didn’t make it to our Rooms. Years ago, we drank together and she witnessed some of my worst behaviour. Although we remained friends after I got sober, we have inevitably drifted apart as our lifestyles no longer matched. She didn’t want to stop drinking. She died aged 55 from liver failure having needed 24/7 carers during the final weeks of her life. Her family are bewildered and devastated. I am grieving her loss and pray that she is now at peace. Were it not for Step Five, I believe my path would have been similar, many AAs told me I would likely die drinking if I avoided or skipped over elements of this Step. Their message that, “WE’VE ALL BEEN WHERE YOU ARE”, gave me the courage to face my fears. Fellows helped me understand that shame, guilt and regret are felt by all of us, but honesty opens the door to freedom. I feel incredibly blessed that I don’t need to take a drink on my feelings today.
Tradition Five is the reason I found AA, my sister carried the message to me, and it saved my life. I’m sad that I wasn’t successful in doing the same for my friend, though I accept that a glimmer of desire to stop must be present for the message to land. A meeting tonight will reinforce the message for me once again.