S.J., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, writes, “I enjoyed everyone being here for the Retreat. It was a real spiritual high for me. Thanks for coming.”
H.A., of Nashville, Tennessee, reports, “I feel like a very blessed man to have received the gift I received this weekend. The gift from my Higher Power was being able to attend the conference in Oklahoma City. As J.P. said to me after the meeting, ‘H., I have never seen you cry before.’ She was seeing tears of joy. She saw the tears of my realization that God has had to put me through a strange and intricate journey for me to have finally found what I have always been looking for. The Twelve Steps, the fellowship, and God as I understand Him, all working simultaneously in my life, if I permit it, is doing for me what I never thought could be possible.…”
J.E., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, says, “…Oklahoma City was a marvelous experience for me. So very solid in the step sharing sessions format.… I think I began to relate for the first time to those who seem to be able to identify with ease ‘I am a grateful, recovering sexaholic.’ I felt privileged to be able to share my story both on the panel and in written form. It is awesome and beautiful that words that come out of my life can be made to be words of witness to the power, love, and mercy that gives us life. For this I am grateful.”
T.O., of Cleveland, Ohio, writes, “The three days were intensely therapeutic to say the least. I went with a willingness to take a deeper look into self and my sobriety and a look is what I got. The conference, the fellowship, and nine months of sobriety is showing me things my sexual addiction has buried for years. With reliance on God and SA, I’m walking through this stuff sober and GRATEFUL!!! Thanks to all who opened up honestly and shared their weaknesses and recovery. I need to know you are like me inside; it’s the only way I get the courage to keep on! One day at a time.”
R.K., of Simi Valley, California, says, “SA’s history tells me what a precious thing we have in the fellowship of the Spirit, and that I dare not take it for granted.
The sobriety imperative undergirded the whole thing (even though there was some insobriety there) and set the tone. The birthday party Friday night was a great idea, though we could have clarified what this precisely meant for us. Because of this foundation, I believe, there was purpose, unity, clarity, strength, serenity, hope, goodness, joy, and love.
Showed how the inner landscape (where we were spiritually) was the controlling influence, and not the outer landscape. The externals don’t make the internals.”
N.H., of Weinheim, West Germany, reports, “Overwhelming. A lot of honesty. I found defects deep inside me. Learned when hugs were OK and when they were not OK. Discovered prayer in SA meetings. Now we do it in Germany, and when we are on the phone with each other too. Must confess to disappointment when I saw that SA is not perfect. Now I see the reality. Dirty dishes are cleaned in dirty dishwater and come out clean!”
L.H., of Lynwood, Washington, writes, “Joy multiplied by the warmth of recovering sexaholics sharing and growing together. Lots of unconditional love and evidence we are together with God.
What I liked best: meetings on Steps, private sharing, lightheartedness, meeting facilities, price.
What I would like to see improved: less host group control of chairing. More sharing of chairs, speakers. More meditation (optional), less food.
The prime phenomena: It’s clear God is doing for us. We are more relaxed, less controlling SA. We went international. Our first SA mass (ecumenical). We seem to listen to each other more. The Steps are clearly the key.”
