Dear Reader
If a spiritual path had been suggested to me before I stopped drinking, I would have laughed and ignored the idea. Prayer and meditation were absolutely alien to me and I was certainly lacking any open-mindedness! At Step Eleven, with my somewhat altered attitude, I found true serenity in practicing conscious contact with my HP. I was taught that, “Praying is the talking, meditation is the listening.” I initially struggled with suggested apps for guided meditation, sitting still for 20 minutes and concentrating on breathing, so I looked towards things I can do. For me, switching the radio off while driving and paying attention to the nature I can see around me works. Doing jigsaws or creative arts help me to switch off the ‘noise’ of daily life. I can make a real attempt to connect with my HP and be open to seeking guidance. The Step Eleven prayer (12&12 p.99) is a daily staple which helps me continuously to avoid the conflict and emotional disturbance I used to willingly engage in when drinking. I once mocked, but the benefits of a spiritual path are so great that I “…would no more do without it than we [I] would refuse air, food or sunshine.” (12&12 p.97)
A few years ago, I remember listening to a lady who was actively involved in Public Information work for intergroup. She said, “AA is anonymous, but we should not be invisible, no one can be attracted to something they can’t see.” This made sense to me, our message needs to reach people that haven’t yet found us. It’s all possible with responsible service and group conscience! Tradition Eleven’s words stand out to me: “…personal ambition has no place in A.A.” (12&12 p.183) It’s wonderfully unique in today’s world that we endeavour to avoid self-gain and instead, gently attract and encourage rather than aggressively promote AA.
With 2026 approaching, perhaps consider ‘attracting’ a newcomer or developing a sponsee’s recovery by arranging a Share subscription for them?