SERVICE

Feb 16, from “Strengthening My Recovery” daily reader

“The sincere adult child working an ACA program of meeting attendance and selfless service gets results with Step Seven. This is the sure path when we struggle with a troublesome shortcoming. “BR.B p. 222

How can giving service and attending meetings produce results? In giving “self-less” service, we must be able to manage our inner critical parent’s dominating and controlling nature. As a result of working the Steps, we find that we are no longer as angry or scared to allow life to unfold as it will.  Here lies the best answer to what has ailed us. The Steps, when worked with a fellow traveler, help us gain peace of mind and a sense of calm that allow us to feel alive.

This realization is exhilarating. Our joy can overflow, and we realize that this is a very valuable and healthy experience for us. While some of our shortcomings may still have a hold on us, we know that our path to wholeness is clearly marked and attainable. On our journey, we share our new-found sense of purpose with others in the program. With gratitude, we are able to share how the program has transformed us into vibrant human beings engaged in a life-giving program.

On this day I will continue to work on my defects of character and shortcomings and share my personal progress and the results I have received with those who will hear me.

 My Experience:

Service comes in many forms.  Service is coming early to the meeting to help set-up, staying late to help clean-up, taking on roles like being the literature person, the snack/coffee person, the Secretary, or the Treasurer.  Service can also take the form of you sharing in the meetings or chairing a meeting.  All these service opportunities allow you to understand that the meeting is bigger than you.  You get to be of service to those you relate to and come to love.  You can then later be of service to those outside of the rooms of recovery in the form of carrying the message to those that suffer.  Again this is much bigger than you and makes you feel connected in a way that you most likely have never been before.  Myself I took on the role of one of the clean-up folks in the beginning.  I didn’t share much.  On my 1 year birthday, I did chair a meeting and realized how and why people need to hear you speak.  Because what you have to say, there is someone in the room that needs to hear it.  They need to connect with you even more deeply and know there is hope in their situation.  I have subsequently been the literature person and I share more in meetings now.  This ACA program has changed me in ways I never thought possible.  It can change for you too, if you allow it.  Remember its “One Day at a Time.”