Spiritual Awakening and the Importance of Service
“The last fifteen years of my life have been rich and meaningful. I have had my share of problems, heartaches and disappointments, because that is life, but also I have known a great deal of joy, and a peace that is the handmaiden of an inner freedom. I have a wealth of friends and, with my A.A. friends, an unusual quality of fellowship. For, to these people, I am truly related. First, through mutual pain and despair, and later through mutual objectives and new-found faith and hope. And, as the years go by, working together, sharing our experiences with one another, and also sharing a mutual trust, understanding and love-without strings, without obligation-we acquire relationships that are unique and priceless.
There is no more “aloneness,” with that awful ache, so deep in the heart of every alcoholic that nothing, before, could ever reach it. That ache is gone and never need return again.
Now there is a sense of belonging, of being wanted and needed and loved. In return for a bottle and a hangover, we have been given the Keys of the Kingdom.” (Keys of the Kingdom, Big Book)
We had a traveling book study where we would finish off with this reading from a story in the big book. It always hit home. The lines “There is no more “aloneness,” with that awful ache, so deep in the heart of every alcoholic that nothing, before, could ever reach it. That ache is gone and never need return again.” In working the 12 steps again and again, I no longer feel like the loneliest person in the room. In addition, remaining active in a Homegroup and general service, I developed a sense of belonging and purpose which has changed my life outside AA. By living in the triangle, life isn’t so bad. Dealing with the highs and the lows, sobriety has taught me to remain active in our three legacies. As a result, the thirst is and has stayed gone.
Topic: spiritual awakening and the importance service. If you are new in sobriety, the topic is modified: how you are working towards achieving a spiritual awakening.
In love and service,
Nicole