Being Called to Service

I love SA. I am really committed to my SA program and this fellowship. I have peace and serenity in my life because through SA I have found a way to live a sober life. I am grateful to my Higher Power, my sponsor, and our 12-Step program for this great gift. Upon receiving a great gift, it is very natural to want to give back. When I was asked if I would consider being nominated to serve as a Trustee, I said, “Yes.”

There are so many wonderful people in our fellowship. The members I have met are generous, kind, and humble people, who provide service with care in their hearts. Service is so healthy. I am drawn out of my habitual self-centeredness to engage in healthy relationships based on service. It has been a blessing.

Our SA service structure is very unique. The outstanding quality of SA service is trust. I had to learn not to govern! Our leaders had to trust me while I was learning how not to govern. When given a leadership role in the service structure, I find that I have to trust my committee members. I can’t govern them, and demand a product that I want. Rather as a trusted servant, I have to trust them to use their personal resources and follow through with the responsibility that they’ve been given. I have to let them do their job and not micro-manage. This is Concept 10: “Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with scope of such authority well defined.”

Trust is also present as we work out our Tradition to put “principles before personalities.” Earlier this year I found that another SA member was really getting on my nerves. I had to pray that my Higher Power would help me. I bit my tongue when I wanted to blast the person with my opinions. The amazing thing was that my hesitation bore good fruit. My tolerance toward my fellow member allowed him space to do the right thing. Our SA slogans, “Think” and “Let go and let God” reflect the true reality that I am not God.

Through service in SA, I have learned to trust my fellow servants and my Higher Power more.