If You Want What We Have

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"If You Want What We Have"
Sponsorship Meditations
by Joan Larkin

---- 90 ----
…who share their experience, strength and hope with each other…
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS PREAMABLE

Newcomer
Now that I have ninety days in recovery, am I really supposed to get up in front of the room and speak? It’s hard enough to make myself raise my hand to share at a meeting! Without my drug of choice, I’m really a shy, private person. I don’t like it when people look at me. I don’t have a gift for public speaking. I don’t know how to make people laugh. I don’t think that I know enough about recover to lead a meeting.

Sponsor
Speaking at a meeting is not the same as public speaking; it’s a tool that we use to stay sober. We don’t have to impress or save anyone when we speak at a meeting. We don’t have to spout principles or explain Steps we haven’t taken yet. We just have to be willing to share what we know to be true for each of us. If we set aside our egos and baggage of fear and pride, we can talk honestly about our own experiences.

We can’t anticipate or control how our words are going to help another person. Before speaking, I say a simple prayer: “Help me to be of use.” The results aren’t up to me. One time, I was so nervous that I forgot everything I’d planned to say. There were long pauses between every sentence. Afterward, a woman came up to me and said, “You’ve given me courage. In three years, I’ve never had to guts to speak. Now that I’ve seen you go through your fear, I think I can do it, too.” I thought I was a failure, but she thanked me!

Today, I do service without calculating the results.
My honesty helps me and others to deepen
the experience of recovery.