Peter came to SA because he wasn’t happy with his sobriety in another S-fellowship. In SA, Peter enjoyed eight years of sexual sobriety. His gratitude for his sobriety and new life, and his dedication to SA showed in his wonderful commitment to service work at the group and national level. He spoke and chaired frequent public information meetings in a 12-Step clinic in the area, and in other parts of the country.
I had always heard, “Service work helps you work your program,” but never believed it until I did service work! Now I say that slogan to others. I try to keep two jobs of service work going to help my own program.
The SA Corrections Committee would like to gratefully acknowledge the many gifts and contributions from individuals, groups, and Intergroups for literature to prisoners. This vital Twelfth Step work to those who still suffer in prison can continue because of your generosity, kindness and support.
The Loners Committee consists of members who live in isolated areas or where they cannot attend a meeting as often as they would like. They write or call each other. This service is considered a lifeline to those who use it.
Dear Essay, Good job on The Interfellowship Forum. That was very well written and helpful to me, especially as a single male who struggles with homosexuality (but it is not my identity). Member story “Only a Deluge of Grace Could Free Me” was also well written, powerful and helpful to me. I really like your newsletters.
This is my first post to the cyber meeting. I am only two months in the program and 21 days sober, but I have had an incredible awakening. Things are seeming to happen in my life from many different avenues. I received a “welcome home” greeting this morning when I was added to the e-mail list, which caused me to sit at my computer at work with tears streaming down my face. I can’t explain it, but I know that God has gotten a hold of me somehow after all these years.
I just returned from our Tuesday night Step meeting. During this meeting we take a 30-minute session for each person to do individual Step work, which is then shared with the group. I have found it necessary to return to Step Two and I thought I would share on that Step in order to make my “taking” of that Step more real to me.
Peter S. here, sober at the moment by the Grace of God. I have a mental disorder that qualifies me as one of those “who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders.” It is simply a neurotransmitter imbalance in my brain that makes me incredibly susceptible to mood swings. Nothing has made that more apparent to me than just the weather here in Seattle yesterday and today.
Some people have asked me about the fear list and gratitude list. I don’t have a formula, but here’s how I do them:
About a year ago I worked the Twelve Steps with my sponsor. I thought I was doing fine even though my sponsor left town. Then I noticed problems developing in my relationship. My wife noticed it too. She said, “Things were going better when you were working the Steps.” So I decided to do another Fourth Step focused on my relationship. I got a new sponsor to work with me. Here are the defects and fears I identified, followed by the way I have put what I’ve learned from this Step into practice in my life.
