OCTOBER 1
LEST WE BECOME COMPLACENT
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85
When I am in pain it is easy to stay close to the friends I have found in the program. Relief from that pain is provided in the solutions contained in A.A.’s Twelve Steps. But when I am feeling good and things are going well, I can become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get into action, to take stock: where am I and where am I going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to regain spiritual balance. Admitting what I find within myself, to God and to another human being, keeps me honest and humble.I’m Mark and I’m a grieving alcoholic.
On the night of September 26, 2023 another driver crossed the centerline and murdered my son. Henry’s passenger credits him with saving his life.
I would not be able to maintain my sobriety through this alone. The love and support that is so freely given in this group is amazing and powerful. Thank you all so very much.
If you’re able, and so inclined, please consider a donation of any amount. Henry’s mother, step-father, and I would greatly appreciate it.
Do the Right Thing
I went to a Catholic Jesuit College. I took philosophy. I think all the classes were taught by priests and the key to getting an A was writing papers on why the Catholic Church sucked. I wasn’t a very good student but I got out of it that God may or may not exist and going to mass was no longer relevant.
I left college of the mind that religion is all bullshit. An idea that was reinforced by the likes of George Carlin and later Bill Maher and several others. It seemed like there was a concerted effort by everyone but Evangelicals, Jesus Freaks and my Jewish friends, to put religion down.
I am not smart enough to understand why. To hear some tell it, it’s because religion starts war. Maybe, I don’t want to get too much into the weeds on this, but to me it’s all about money and possession of legal, justified or otherwise, assets. And what’s all that gonna have to do with me.
Consequently, for most of my life, I have had religion when needed. Like legal issues, and I had many, I would pray to God to please get me out of this. Or then I had kids. I have a single daughter in Los Angeles who never tells me what she does all weekend. I adapted. I brought prayer back into my life. I have a kid with Special Needs, she brought more prayer into my life than I ever expected and got me to where I was not afraid or concerned about telling anyone else about it. I pray.
Ashamedly, I seem to only pray for myself except for special circumstances. This week was one of those circumstances.
One of our close members of our Group, lost his son in an auto accident.
I cannot imagine the loss, and pain, and bitterness and wretchedness he must be going through. I feel so helpless because I do not know how to relieve his suffering.
I can recount to him and all of you, how hard this man has worked to repair the relationship with his son. How hard he has worked to achieve his accomplishments in sobriety. Even quitting smoking along the way. I can go all day long with chapter and verse about how great a guy he is, and he is, but it does not fix anything.
I rarely am at such a loss of ideas on what I can do. Again, I bring God and prayer back in my life because its an emergency. I pray that God or the Higher Powers or whatever deity exists because it’s what you believe, can keep my friend with us. Relieve his pain. I also pray that I will get the notion of what is the right thing to do and when called upon, I will do it above and beyond my abilities.
I cannot ask of you to do the same but consider it. Power in the Group, so to speak. I end this missive with this….
Mark, we love you, brother. Hang in there and stay with us. Rely on us. Don’t be hesitant to ask.
Contributed by John M.
October Birthdays… IF They Make It!
October 15th… Mike B. celebrates 17 years
October 16th… Kevin O. celebrates 3 years
October 19th… Mike F. celebrates 12 years
October 19th… Ed D. celebrates 38 years
October 20th… Mike M. celebrates 5 years
October 22nd… Jeff S. celebrates 1 year
October 23rd… Scott Y. celebrates 5 years
If your birthday has been missed…. fill out the birthday form.
We really want to celebrate your AA anniversary because your birthday made ours possible!
Thanks everybody and apologies to you if you were missed or incorrectly noted.
My First Meeting
Please be “of service.” If you’ve never contributed a “My First Meeting”, please help to keep this column going…we need you! What do you remember most of your first meeting? It can be one sentence; it can be up to two paragraphs. Could be funny, poignant or strictly “clinical”. Write what you want…you might have enjoy writing it!
Our Trusted Servants Continue to Be:
The current Step 2 Men’s Group meeting schedule is Monday, Wednesday & Friday at Tim’s (3809 J St), Tuesday & Thursday online, Saturday in the park is “Daily Reflections” and Sunday is our Rogue meeting in the park. Each gathering is one hour. Great job men!
- Monday: Tim C.
- Tuesday: Mark W.
- Wednesday: John M.
- Thursday: Sean F.
- Friday: Jon B.
- Saturday: David K.
- Sunday: Mark C.
Want to add your name to the “Back-up-Help-Substitute Secretary List”? Just contact Group GS, John M., Treasurer Mark W. or any of our other Secretaries and let them know!
Step 2 Men’s Group Believes…
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
We’d never presume that the 12 Steps are not clear. Nor would we imply that they need ‘improvement’. However…for purposes of assisting to keep the meeting pointed in an important direction each day, the ‘Step 2 Men’s Group Statement’ is read as follows:
Step 2 Men’s Group is founded on the belief that spirituality is essential to our sobriety. Our group is non-religious, but we do not oppose anyone’s religious beliefs. We believe that respect for others and their beliefs is essential to our spiritual development. Accordingly we ask that avoid criticism of others or of their religion or lack of religion, their race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance, trade or profession, length of sobriety, or personal beliefs. Our goal is to further our spirituality, our sobriety and our personal development, not to confront or belittle others. Always remember to be kind to others.
Extra Special Thanks Dept:
Thanks to our General Secretary John M. for his column, Dave Mc. for “Mouse’s Corner” and our Treasurer Mark W. for all your contributions. We’re still waiting for YOU gentle reader…Why don’t YOU contribute a short “something?” Any length, most any AA related topic. Reply now and it will get included next month!
Men’s Gazette – September 2023
Men’s Gazette – November 2023