Power of 12

The speaker at Sunday's 12- step meeting said he lived in a field outside Phoenix for a period of time while he was drinking. A family member used to drop off a change of clothes once a week.  Even with this punishing lifestyle, it took him more than one attempt to finally put together several years of sobriety. His story illustrates the power of the 12-step program.

He’d made periodic runs at changing his life. He’d enter a halfway house, find a job and pretend he was paying attention at meetings. But he was only putting up appearances, doing enough to keep the managers off of his butt. Eventually, once family and friends had begun to trust him again – he’d be off for another run.
 
He attributed his current success in recovery to finally locating a sponsor who forced him to do the steps, make amends, and live by 12-step principles.  Once sober he began a busy schedule of meetings, service work, and reading 12-step literature. Rather than fighting the suggestions of those around him, he listened.

Today he has a wide circle of friends and sponsees, a great job, self-respect and – above all – serenity.