Fundamentals of My Surrender
Often my willfulness asserts itself, and I have been learning the following ingredients of surrender.
Please Share Your Lust With Me
In the White Book, it says that we identified with each other at the point of our weakness. I need to hear your struggles with lust in order to get in touch with my own lust. I need to hear your pain so I know I don’t want to go back out there. I need to hear your hope so I know there is a way out. I need you to be “specific but not graphic,” as one member puts it.
SA CFC
Dear SA Fellowship: I received word from Ray Stith’s wife that the trusted servant and friend to all of us, known as Tucson Ray passed away from cancer and declining health on June 21, 2018. When it came to prison work, Ray was the genuine, formative force. He started SA prison meetings, wrote the sponsor by mail approach that is currently in use, and created our protocol for how to approach prison officials.
Finance Report
As I look at the first six months of 2018 revenue results, I see total revenue has a positive variance $6,670 (4.5%). The 17.7% shortfall in contributions has been offset by positive variances in convention contributions (165%) and net literature income (38%).
Discussion Topic
What part of your disease and recovery are you responsible for?
Dear ESSAY
Dave T. forwarded this Third Step prayer — a comparison of English and Polish versions. God, I offer myself to Thee Boże, ofiaruje siebie Tobie - both versions say that the presence of HP in my life is essential. The Polish ofiaruje is more like to sacrifice me without any choice.
Editors’ Corner
Dear Essay readers: This issue of Essay includes many stories on “Traditions: Relating with Others.” Your next issue in October will focus on “Humility: Being Right Sized.” Please send in any stories or short articles on your experience with Humility! Future topics are: December, 2018: Service Work as a Gift; February, 2019: Sobriety and Relationships; May, 2019: Open-mindedness. Let us hear from you at essay@sa.org
Humor For SA
There is no “I” in Team — and there is a “we” and “I” in weird.
St. Louis Convention Report
The Saint Louis SA International Convention lived up to its theme of Gateway to a New Freedom. Events began with the annual July meetings of the Trustees and the Delegate Assembly. Thirty-two delegates and alternates from around the world and eight Trustees were present. Ten or more observers were also present from time to time.
EMER Report
Dublin Regional Assembly was held from Friday – Sunday, June 22–24. There were 170+ registered including 25 S-Anon members. Participants came from 16 nations and spoke 12 different languages. This included people from the USA, Germany, and Austria. Irish hospitality at the St. Patrick’s University campus was fantastic. The space and environment were wonderful and it was easy to access the airport and city.
