Writing for Red Door brought a challenge to me that if I was to write for Red Door and try to carry the message of the AA Program in the context of Christ’s love for all of us, I had to review the way I worked the Program.  It isn’t an arrogant objective for the reality of any AA Meeting —the sharing and the way each of us “works the program”. Ideas like what we learn listening to a newbie reveals the fears of the reality of “giving up,” or when we heard “her pains” of rebuilding her marital relationship, or the old timer who quietly says, “I wish I’d listened earlier in my life to the love and power of the Twelve Steps.”

 It’s these and so many other experiences which Red Door invites us to pass along, not for personal bravado, not to pad our ego, but for that fundamental rationale of AA.

Survival from our alcoholism rises when one alcoholic talks to another and each share their experiences, strengths, and hopes for if my suggestion worked for me, perhaps it will for you.

So, with that background, if someone were to ask me,

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“So again, Jim A of St X Noon, Cincinnati, would you please pass along three aspects of the AA Program which worked for you? 

First, I’d say the importance of the beauty of a regular review of the Twelve Steps. When we enter the Program, we are struck by the magnitude and complexity of the life-changing journey facing us, “How can I do this?”  We immediately find a step-by-step way to do it. We hear, “Easy does it,” a “Step at a time”, and so forth. We have a personal guide in our sponsor and of course in our meetings themselves where others share their experiences. We focus on our wrongdoings and how we eradicate them and undertake ways of making up for our drunken activities. Some try to work through the Steps alone but it’s best when we seek help from our Higher Power and our sponsor both of whom will walk the very steps we are walking. And as sinners always, we are always reviewing our conduct as we progress through our life and making amends where needed. We learn that life is a process.

Second, maintain a conscious contact with God as you understand Him. Key words: “constant contact” and “your understanding of God.”  Recovery is a “constant” effort. It continues each day for something new is always jumping out at you and your armory of responding to life’s surprise attacks is strengthened by constant preparedness, like attending meetings, reading the Big Book, working with others, carrying messages. One’s understanding of God evolves for it seems at first perhaps very thin, but time deepens your understanding. And the best news is that God is aways there, reaching for you no matter where you are or what difficulty you find yourself in. Do something each day to replenish the supply of responses to difficulties you encounter through your “constant contact with God.”

Third, carry the message of the AA Program and practice these principles. In a simplistic way, we learn and build when we “give it away, pass it on.” The Program calls us each day to carry the message of joy and happiness, of a way out of difficulties, and ways to get out of trouble. It’s not a “one shot Johnny” program but a way of life, a life of love and strength and growth. Carry that Good News. We are called by Step Twelve to spread that news—to share what we found and how it changed our lives, indeed, how it saved our life.

That’s it. That’s what I would say if so asked. I get no Gold Star for walking that path but what I do get is strengthening my own program and the reinforcement it provides.”

“Thanks Jim, and to all of you reading this Red Door meditation …  remember,

‘It does work if we work it’”.

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Jim A. St X Noon, Cincinnati