Offer him [the alcoholic] friendship and fellowship. Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 95
I remember how attracted I was to the two men from A.A. who Twelfth-Stepped me. They said I could have what they had, with no conditions attached, that all I had to do was make my own decision to join them on the pathway to recovery. When I start convincing a newcomer to do things my way, I forget how helpful those two men were to me in their open-minded generosity.
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We discussed this in out meeting last night. Approaching someone with a sense of honesty is so much more than being a preacher. Never forget how much a truly friendly,sincere approach means to someone who is still in denial and afraid of the world………including themselves!
After a several 24, it is still quite amazing to me how cunning this disease is. I sometimes, still, can get caught up on all the things “I have to do” when an AA in need reaches out for help. By help I mean everything from making a pot of coffee to listening to a fifth step. 99.9% of the time, these things that “I have to do” are not a matter of life or death. By the grace of my higher power, I have come to believe that all matters with regards to my program of recovery are just that. Because of the examples that were set before me and keeping in mind our sixth and seventh step, today I am able to do anything I can to help another AA.
Self Centered Fear…that is what drove me to my addiction. If I focus on helping others, the selfish attitude inside of me stays in remission.