The SA Conference in New York was absolutely tremendous. I got so much out of it. I have also come to a decision to serve SA on a national or international level by serving on the Loners’ Committee. I am really excited about this and I know it will help my sobriety.

I have come to understand over the last few months that my real problem, or challenge, is to surrender my lust to God, to achieve “progressive victory over lust.” Physical sobriety may not be real sobriety at all. In fact, physically acting out is the last part of the process—a culmination of unsurrendered thoughts and attitudes.

Unless I am committed to full sobriety and recovery—surrendering my lust and negative attitude temptations, one day at a time—then I am not sober. As it says in Step Three of our SA Book, “God, please keep me sober from my lust today.” Notice it does not say, “Keep me sober from my acting out.” Abstinence is an outgrowth of being sober, sober in the truest sense—surrendered, with peace of mind, happy, joyous and free. Unless I surrender all of me, unless I am committed to progressive victory over lust, I am deluded in thinking I am truly SA sober. I know that half measures avail me nothing. I pray that God will grant me the desire and willingness to progressively surrender my lust.