One Day at a Time

Say What?

Link: http://gourl.org/dsfaq

Have you ever asked this question: “What do I say” to the prospect when on Twelve Step call? ^{_{(see footnote)}}

WHAT FOLLOWS IS SOME of HOW A TWELVE STEP CALL GOES WHEN PERFORMED as they had been when the co-founders did this deal, helping alcoholics recover form alcoholism. ---- AND IT WORKED!

"The two friends spoke of their spiritual experience and told him about the course of action they carried out."

Did they follow that with, "Oh but that's too far down the road for YOU. That spiritual stuff - that STEP stuff - is not for the 'still foggy' and "still shakin' newcomer " like you.

Oh, c'mon you know some arrogant SOBs who talk like this in AA meetings. You know you do.

Are you kidding me? No they did not. They made NO BONES about the spiritual program of action. And they brought it out UP FRONT! Right from the get go.

He interrupted: "I used to be strong for the church,
but that won't fix it. I've prayed to God on hangover mornings and sworn that I'd never touch another drop but by nine o'clock I'd be boiled as an owl."

Next day found the prospect more receptive. He had been thinking it over. "Maybe you're right," he said. "God ought to be able to do anything."

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Holy crap! Did this guy just take Step Two? Yes I believe he did! No classes. No Big Book thumping’. No workbooks. No essay writing. No handouts or religious lectures - -- just one alcoholic talking to another. Amazing. It’s THAT simple.

Not that seminars or Big Book conferences are bad . . . they are wonderful, I have conducted, hosted and and spoken at my fair share of Big Book gatherings and Step Workshops and even attended some myself -- but facilitating a public event for the benefit of educating, motivating, and fellowshipping a group of alcoholics is one thing - nailing ones balls to the walls or whatever it is you posses that is worth nailing - and getting the work done with a another alcohol is something else entirely - and if you think that I think that standing at a podium pitching AA and the twelve step is the same as "Carry this message" then you don't 'get' Step Twelve OR even the entire seventh chapter of that fabulous, fantastic, and terrible tome after which the Fellowship of the Spirit was named, "Alcoholics Anonymous".

We follow the directions and the prospect responds’.

This information is in the Chapter "A Vision For You". The co-author's "VISION" for us involves an awful lot of twelve step work with others doesn't it?

Peace and Love,

Danny S - RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

_{1* For the outsider -}a "Twelve Step call is when a recovered alcoholic goes out to tend to a still sick and suffering alcoholic and running a very specific Twelve Step 'routine' - laid out and detailed in a specific method and order of application in the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" expected result of which is a spiritual awakening accompanied by a removal of the desire to drink. The is what is meant by "carrying the message". Carrying the message and take someone through the twelve steps are synonymous. I have never seen it fail when administered and followed as directed. Never. And I' have been blessed to have been a party to more applications than many of my fellows.