SERVICE
July 16, from “Strengthening My Recovery” daily reader
Service
“We are motivated to get out of ourselves and to be of service to others… we give back what has been given to us freely in ACA.” BRB p. 439
“In our early ACA experience, we may have been skeptical, confused, angry, or sad. Certainly no one has ever come to ACA because things were working well. A physical, mental, and spiritual bottom usually brings us to ACA.
Having come to ACA meetings a few times, we may have caught a glimmer of hope that the ACA program may help us. After a while, we may have asked someone for their number or had a cup of coffee with them to see if we might become fellow travelers.
As we reflect on those early days, we can only imagine what might have become of us had we not found an ACA meeting. Our thoughts may turn to those whose lives are similarly affected, and we would like for them to have the same opportunity for spiritual growth.
So we may decide to participate in the group’s business meeting, or accept a service role at the group, Intergroup, or World Service level. Or maybe we feel most comfortable accepting the invitation to chat or have a cup of coffee with another ACA who is about to embark on this wonderful spiritual adventure. We decide our own best way to give back.
On this day I recall my early days and the progress I have made. In return, I will perform service in some way so that other ACAs may find this life-saving program.”
My Experience:
Service is the backbone of this program. For me, when I first walked into the room of recovery, I looked at the chairperson and thought, they will ask me to sit in that chair at some point. Because of my control issues that is where I would have liked to have been. But I also knew, coming into this room, I did not want that. I wanted to be somewhere where I did not have to take a leadership role. And meeting after meeting when no one asked anything of me, I felt more relaxed. I started to be able to define what service I was able to give and when I could give it. I started with helping clean up the place after the meeting, then I started sharing during the meeting, then I took on the role of literature person. There are many opportunities to perform service so when you decide that you can give service just know it comes in many forms and that all service work is a blessing for the group.
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