D.K., of Stamford, CT, tells us: “I think that every time any of us carries the message to a newcomer, each of us founds SA anew. Each of us does this to save ourselves, to learn a way of life in between the misery of succumbing, and the agony of resisting, a way of life that is peaceful and free from lust. We are brothers and sisters seeking, as much as we can and as best we can, this way of life.… I went to a meeting last night where the speaker said that he was interested in recovery, not sobriety and that he came to SA for intimacy, not celibacy. I try to come to SA to receive freedom from lust and if that means celibacy for some period or for the rest of my life, I need to stay conscious of the misery of lust so that I will prefer celibacy. In addition, it seems to me that there must be a way to live so that the absence of sex is not only not a problem but a great joy and freedom. Someone said that by getting sober in AA they got everything they ever sought from alcohol, and I think that by getting sober in SA we can find the intimacy with other people and the union with God that we sought from sex.”
D.L., of Cottonwood, ID, reports: “SA is working. Keep it up, we need it.”
W.M., of Abbotsford, B.C., says: “Thank you for SA. I now feel that I will not re-offend as long as I follow the 12 Steps. I definitely could not control my lust. SA has given me hope. It fits in well with our program here.”
C.D., of Statesville, NC, says: “I need some more literature but wanted to reach out to you as well. Thanks to God, SA, and my sponsor, I have been sexually sober since January 3, 1986.… Thank you all again for your help—I feel and look a different person since I first read our Big Book and some literature on January 3.”
J.F., of Buffalo, NY, reports: “SA has officially started in Buffalo, NY.… We currently have four members and with God’s help, we’ll be able to expand.
“As regards to myself, I’m still taking things one day at a time; having been a sober member of AA for 11 years, I’ve found there’s no other way. It is a struggle and far more difficult than my AA experience and a bit more than I envisioned, but I’m beginning to recognize the benefits of the struggle.… I’m grateful that SA has been made available to me, through God’s grace.
“If I can ever be of any assistance, please let me know, and of course I’m open to anyone you might refer.”
L.M., of Karlsruhe, West Germany, says: “God is helping us.”
R.F., of Schenectady, NY, writes: “…Realizing alcohol often triggered my lust, I attended my first AA meeting last Sunday and have decided to abstain from alcohol for the next ninety days. So far, I’ve made it through a lust-free, alcohol-free week!
“My minister has been tremendously supportive as he was delighted to discover how completely the 12 Steps conform to the tenets of our faith… As I continue to attend more AA meetings I hope to glean more of the meeting format.…”
A.O., of Battlesville, OK, says, “Coming into the program in OKC approximately three years ago brought a new way of life for me.… Finally attending meetings in Tulsa has brought the strength I needed to achieve my now 30 days’ sobriety. Please put me on your mailing list. Just finished reading ESSAY shared by D.H. I don’t want to miss another one.”
M.F., of St. Clair Shores, MI, reports: “…I enjoyed reading the new SA ESSAY.… January 15th I celebrated my first year anniversary in AA and six months clean time in NA. Plus continued my OA membership of eight years and now 125 pound weight loss. I believe all this was possible due to getting down to core issue with my one year association with SA. I am ENJOYING SEXUAL SOBRIETY.”
