AUGUST 1
LIVING IT
The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83
When new in the program, I couldn’t comprehend living the spiritual aspect of the program, but now that I’m sober, I can’t comprehend living without it. Spirituality was what I had been seeking. God, as I understand Him, has given me answers to the whys that kept me drinking for twenty years. By living a spiritual life, by asking God for help, I have learned to love, care for and feel compassion for all my fellow men, and to feel joy in a world where, before, I felt only fear.August Birthdays… IF They Make It!
August 6th… Steve B. celebrates 18 years
August 9th… Mike D. celebrates 7 years
August 9th… Ryan F. celebrates 8 years
August 12th… Jeff E. celebrates 39 years
August 25th… Craig G. celebrates 9 years
August 27th… Rudy R. celebrates 21 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!
A Self Reflection
Step eight is the most difficult of the steps to complete. I wonder if it can ever be completed.
I will be honest. There are people who I may owe an apology to. I do not think I owe them any financial amends. I was the one that was screwed out of some money. It happened because I was still under the influence.
That is a hair shirt that I still wear today.
I don’t trust these people either. Not with a thing.
I remember this one guy toward the end, right before I went to my third rehab. He spent a half hour telling me I had an Anger Problem, not a drinking problem. I remember how rough I looked at the time. I remember how the guy wanted to discuss it over a few drinks. And I remembered how his boss had screwed me out of a commission and this guy would not go to bat for me either, while he got his.
Was my reaction bad? Sure. Did I say some things that were not appropriate, absolutely. Did it get me anywhere? No. I think he shrugged it off like I was the town drunk. Otis to his Andy of Mayberry.
It did hasten or made me very receptive for when another friend of mine, Rick, called me and told me to go to Azure Acres. He said it would change my life. So far, it has.
Whether I can ever apologize for saying some things remains to be seen.
I see a lot of these guys around town from time to time. Our eyes may meet. Then quicky look away. I usually go into a mental wheel spin of all the things I should have done. Sometimes, I think of violent things I would still like to do!
Where would that get me? Nowhere. Unfortunately, we do not get time back. Even second chances come with an asterisk if they are ever successful. And that’s a big if.
So, I have this column to write about it. I share to you, very appreciatively, as a substitute to any encounters with these people. I attend meetings to assuage my resentments and anger. Meditate as best I can to let it go.
I am fortunate that I found the Step Two Men’s Group. I thank you for letting me reflect.
Contributed by John M.
“Mouse’s Corner”
A.A. member Dave Mc. curates a few selected readings from a variety of A.A. related publications each month.
“When, therefore, we speak to you of God,
we mean your own conception of God”
Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 47
We Agnostics
…While abstinence is the beginning, our only hope for recovery is a profound emotional
and spiritual change.
—It Works: How And Why pg. 10
Contributed by Dave Mc.
Tradition 08
Short Form
“Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.”
Long Form
“Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional. We define professionalism as the occupation of counseling alcoholics for fees or hire. But we may employ alcoholics where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise have to engage nonalcoholics. Such special services may be well recompensed. But our usual A.A. Twelfth Step work is never to be paid for.”
Tradition Summary
Paid Staff Help Make 12 Step Work Possible
The eighth tradition makes it clear that A.A. may employ professional secretaries and other professional staff members. Their job is not to DO Twelve Step work; but to make Twelve Step work possible. “Our Twelfth Step is never paid for, but those who labor in service for us are worthy of their hire.” (12×12, Page 171)
There is a difference between doing twelve step work for pay and working for a master’s degree as a counselor in the field of alcoholism and being of service in a hospital where more and more newcomers first find sobriety. Professional counselors do their counseling job and THEN go to A.A. meetings and carry the message “for free and for fun” just like the rest of us. Their job is not a substitute for working an A.A. program.
We must always remember that we cannot do the work of carrying the message to the still suffering alcoholic if we don’t have people in our various service centers assisting us in the logistics of US carrying out our primary purpose. We see that our few paid workers are performing only those service tasks that our volunteers cannot consistently handle. Primarily these folks are not doing Twelfth Step work. They are just making more and better Twelfth Step work possible.
We give freely what has been given freely to us.
Step-Tradition Parallel
The spiritual principle behind the eighth step is “willingness and love” to work the steps. The eighth tradition takes that idea one step further and teaches me that to have good relationships with other people, I must be “zealous” in carrying the message. Otherwise my message is suspect. In our meditation, let us examine the sate of our “zeal” in our relationships with God, A.A., mates and work. Let us begin with the state of our “zeal” in carrying the message to the sick and suffering alcoholic.
From an idea by George T.
Funny Pages
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.
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 C.
- Wednesday: John M.
- Thursday: Sean F.
- Friday: Jon B.
- Saturday: Dave M.
- 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!
Extra Special Thanks Dept:
Thanks to our General Secretary John M. for “A Self Reflection”, 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 – July 2024
Men’s Gazette – September 2024