Sobriety in Stumptown

Transcription

1 Sobriety in Stumptown Portland Area Intergroup March, NE 20th Ave, Portland, OR Volume 5, No AA in Portland and Portland in AA by Patrick M., Portland Ever since I got sober in October of 1981, I have gone to a lot of meetings. It has been the highest priority in my life to stay close to the Fellowship wherever I am and I ve heard stories from the beginning about people going to meetings when travelling. I've always taken that to heart. I had also heard stories of the most amazing "coincidences," such as meeting friends or friends of friends unexpectedly in the oddest of places. My experience has been that with AA in Portland in my heart, AA and Portland have been everywhere. In late 1991/early 1992, I began several years of regular travel overseas. During that time the most amazing things happened. My first trip was to London and my first meeting there was in Camden Town. I introduced myself as from out of town and after the meeting someone came up to me and asked if I knew an individual from Portland. I not only knew this individual but went to many meetings with him and was pretty good friends with him. Just a coincidence. In 1993, I went to Israel on a tour and at my first meeting in Tel Aviv I met a man from Portland who was employed there. I met up with him again in Israel, in 1996, at the same meetings. He has since visited Portland several times. Well, probably another coincidence. In late 1993, I took my mom to France. We were in a small town near Nice and I had not been able to get to a meeting in awhile. The International AA Directory listed three English speaking contacts. After two unsuccessful attempts, the third person answered. To our mutual surprise we had sobered up in the same meetings at the same time in 1

2 Portland. ANOTHER coincidence? In mid 1994, I went to Belize and sure enough the AA contact there was from Portland and his parents still lived here. This was MORE than a coincidence! In 1996, while in the Middle East, I took a bus from Jerusalem to Cairo and shock of shocks the AA contact went to Benson High School in Portland! The God of my understanding works in mysterious ways. Throughout my sobriety, there have been many "coincidences like this. The point is, AA is everywhere in Portland, and if you keep it in your heart, Portland is in AA, everywhere! Happily Living Life on Mt. Sobriety by Jennifer L., Milwaukie "The hills are alive, with the sound of music!" That snippet of song is a warning: schmaltz ahead. But just like the excellent, Oscar-winning movie, it's uplifting schmaltz. My life now in sobriety is very alive, exciting and so good. I gotta sing about it. I gotta write about it. I am overwhelmed with my need to share my new-found happiness. Puppy love you suggest? Perhaps. Yes, I am in love. With me. With God. With sobriety. God saved my life. Saved me from falling deeper into degradation and abuse. I hated everything so much: my life, my family, my job, my marriage, etc. But most of all, I hated myself. I hated me. My entire life I had hated who I was THAT I was. And God saved me from that killing, oppressive, all-consuming hatred. I tried to soften my life, find something to live for, someone to trust, someone to love. For 47 years I searched. And what did I find? Disappointment. Distrust. Disgust. Disenchantment. Dis. And Un. I was Un. Unhappy. Unattractive. Unlovable. Unworthy, Unable. Unaware. Unfeeling. etc.. And then I got a DUI God reached out to his defiant, broken, sad daughter and saved her from herself. I got a DUI. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that I was a drunk, and I was driving. I was a capital-l Loser. All my worst fears were brought to life, highlighted in the glare of a mug shot. Handcuffs. I was put in handcuffs! But through the pain of my latest humiliation, I was born into a new life. God beckoned me in, showed me a home. God left me alive and gave me my feelings back. Whoa. Talk about a curse and a blessing. Before, I didn't care about anything, and didn't feel anything. Today I feel everything! People say I am so energetic and enthusiastic. Yes, I am. I just can not stop beaming with appreciation. I love everything now, even balancing my budget. "I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see." I have always loved that 2

3 song, but never truly understood the beauty, simplicity, and truth of Amazing Grace... until I, too, was saved through the grace of God. So I tell my story because I don't know why God saved my life, but I love to ponder this question. Maybe I am here to make a difference to a still-suffering alcoholic. To show AA works for this alcoholic. To encourage people, and shine my light of love and encouragement. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine... Hide it under a bushel, no! I'm gonna let it shine... " Words of encouragement and self-love, told in a song. (Songs seem to be a theme for me.) Maybe I can help someone understand themselves. Because, while my whole story is different from many, at our core all of us alcoholics are the same. We have all been abused, we were all hurt, we suffered alone, we didn't trust anyone, and we were sad, devastated, angry people. So that's why we are told to listen for the similarities, not the differences, in alcoholic's stories. Because, while the details are different, the core is the same. We all want more. More love, more trust, more fun, more respect, more, more, more. And I have found my more. I can stop searching, trying, struggling, hating. And I have been given an alternative: satisfaction and acceptance. I am so effervescent because I am truly a living "do-over." I win! I want to shout it from everywhere. AA works! God works! You are loved! Don't give up! Pink cloud? Dunno. I have bad times, just like you. Scary, lonely, what-the-hell times. But we all have those. That's just life. So why should I focus on that aspect?! I see no need, no upside, no value to wallowing anymore. Been there, done that! And the only thing self-pity ever got me was drunk. So, I am not going there again. But if I am in a pink cloud of happiness, then when that cloud blows away, you will see me standing on a mountaintop. A mountain I have climbed, hated, loved, cried over, laughed with, etc.. Mt. Sobriety. I love this mountain because before I was clinging to the tip of an iceberg. Everything was hidden beneath the surface, treacherous, and icy cold. Now, I am standing tall and proud on Mt. Sobriety, pitching my flag there into a field of others' triumphant flags. Your flags. I am in such great company. You all have carved out a trail to follow up to the peaks. Thank you. So maybe God saved me to tell my story. Talk the talk, and walk the walk. Sing. Rejoice. Smile. Who knows? More will be revealed to me later. All I know for sure is that I am so grateful to be alive. Really alive! And now I occasionally follow directions: 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -- "Be joyful always." I used to say "I don't perceive the need" when a change of any sort was suggested to me. But, as I heard my friend Len say at a meeting, "ego is not your amigo." Corny, yes. True, hell yes! So I am learning to stop condemning prior to investigation, and embrace change. I am learning that saying "no" to change is just my fear talking for me. And what I need to say back is "Hmm. Tell me more. Maybe you are right, I will think about it. Thank you." Boy, learning to open my mind to others' ideas was, and still is, staggeringly difficult. Because I am like you. I think I know best... about everything! 3

4 But, I am learning that my life is better lived, better enjoyed, and better balanced with variety, an open willing mind, a song in my heart, and gratitude in my soul. It s a funny thing about life; if you accept anything but the very best, you will get it. W. Somerset Maugham Forgiveness Road by Anonymous Forgiveness rode Reluctantly into town One long, long night Many years ago. Though the road was long Narrow was the path, Somber was the sound; Somewhere between two leaved gates Somehow over on the other side Forgiveness road; bitter tears over many years Time was tight yet time was right Broken by life so many times before And still forgiveness rode For now was, and is, The complete fullness of time. Now let me think on how I can tell it to you straight. Well, it s kinda like this, After years and years of looking For the gate, I finally Figured it out. Forgiveness road. Monthly Business Meetings Please note: District 27 business meeting location has changed. See below for details. Portland Area Intergroup (PAI): Monthly Business Meeting, 2 nd Mon, 7:00 PM, 3123 NE 24 th Ave. (St. Mary Magdalene Church), Portland 4

5 PAI CPC: Contact Paul C., PAI Public Information: Open Chair. No current Chairperson. If interested, call Paul C., PAI Treatment Facilities: Contact Roger W., PAI Bridging the Gap: Contact Jim H., PAI Corrections: Contact Jason at (503) PAI Website: Contact Matt M., PAI Newsletter: Contact Jennifer L., PDAC: 1 st Sat, 6:00 PM, 1111 SW Country Club, Lake Oswego Dist 9: 1 st Wed, 6:30 PM, 24 th and Kearney, Portland Dist 10: Last Mon, 7:00 PM, SW 4 th St., Beaverton Dist 11: Last Thu, 7:00 PM, URS Club, Portland Dist 12: 1 st Tue, 6:30 PM, 12x12 Club, 7035 NE Glisan, Portland Dist 15: 1 st Wed, 6:45 PM, th St., Oregon City Dist 18: 1 st Sat, 9:30 AM, 215 N 6 th St., St. Helens Dist 23: 1 st Tue, 6:00 PM, Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, SW Willamette Dr., West Linn Dist 24: 1 st Thu, 6:15 PM, 2800 SE Harrison St., Portland Dist 26: 2 nd Sun, 5:00 PM, St Charles Church, 5310 NE 42 nd Ave., Portland Dist 27: 1 st Mon, 7:00 PM, 4035 SE Rio Vista St., Milwaukie Dist 31: 2 nd Tue, 7:00 PM, 937 NE Jackson School Rd., Hillsboro Dist 34: 3 rd Sat, 5:00 PM, 485 Portland Ave., Gladstone Dist 35: 2 nd & 4 th Sat, 7:00 PM, SW Shaw St., Suite A, Beaverton Dist 36: 2 nd Thu, 6:00 PM, 2025 SW Vermont St., Portland Dist 37: 2 nd Tue, SW Town Center Loop East, Wilsonville 5

6 Meeting Updates To find information about new meetings or meetings that have changed since the last meeting schedule was printed, click on Updates on the Intergroup website, pdxaa.com. Coming Events To find information about coming events, click on Events on the Intergroup website, pdxaa.com. Committee News Intergroup committees carry the message of recovery to the still-suffering alcoholic. Please help with this 12th Step work. Sign up by clicking on Service on the Intergroup website. Hotline: Openings for Hotline shifts and for 12th Step volunteers. 12th Step volunteers talk to newcomers who have questions. Please note: The calls are screened by the answering service and forwarded to the volunteer's home phone; callers never see the home phone number of the volunteer. Cooperating with the Professional Community and Public Information: The two committees are working together to bring the message of recovery to the public and to the professional community healthcare, clergy, legal, educators, social workers, and others. The CPC committee meets every first Thursday at 6:30 PM at the Intergroup office, 825 NE 20th Ave, Suite 200, Portland. Portland Deaf Access Committee: The Portland Deaf Access Committee meets on the first Saturday of every month at the United Church of Christ, 1111 SW Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR The meeting starts at 6:00 PM (ish) and usually lasts one-and-a-half hours. We welcome people interested in finding out more about what can be done. You don t need to know sign language to help. us at pdxaccess@gmail.com with questions. Bridging the Gap: A one-time temporary contact for people transitioning from a treatment center to meetings. Bridging the Gap meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Portland Intergroup Office basement, located at 825 NE 20th Ave, Suite 200, Portland. "We Bridge the Gap so alcoholics leaving treatment don't have to walk alone across that scary gap between the beginning of recovery in treatment and the continued recovery in AA. Please contact Stephanie L. at pdxbtg@yahoo.com or call (503) if you are interested. 6

7 Corrections: Currently our focus is to carry the AA message to youths in the Multnomah County Detention Center (JDH). We need many volunteers to help bring AA meetings to the facility on a regular basis. Call the Intergroup Office (503) if you are interested. Website: Webservant and Assistant Webservant Openings at PAI. Anyone interested should forward their service resume to 1212@pdxaa.com. The Website committee is looking for members, as well. Contact Matt M. at webservant@pdxaa.com. Newsletter (Sobriety in Stumptown): The Newsletter committee is looking for members. Stump needs your help! Contact Jennifer L. at newsletter@pdxaa.com. Conference Announcement: A men s conference is being held soon in Las Vegas, NV: Who: Alcoholic Men What: 25 th International AA Men s Conference, Singleness of Purpose When: April 19 22, 2012 Where: Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV Why: Education and Excellent Fellowship Discount for registering before 3/31/12, Call Ted Barnes, PR Chair, , for more information. What Do You Think? Tell me what you think about this newsletter. Do you like what you re reading? What else would you like to see? This newsletter is another example of progress, not perfection. There will be changes in future editions, so give me your thoughts, if you want to share. Jennifer L., editor, at newsletter@pdxaa.com. Become Published Submit your article, poem, or artwork to Sobriety in Stumptown. Share your message of experience, strength, and hope. You can write about your personal before and after AA stories, things that have inspired you in sobriety, a spiritual awakening, a lesson you ve learned in sobriety, or even a piece on how the AA promises have manifested in your life. Just tell your story in your own words, written from your heart. Your message is important, and just might save someone s life. And remember, this newsletter would not exist without your input. 7

8 Visit the Portland Area Intergroup website, pdxaa.com, select the Newsletter section, and send me a MS Word document. I am here to help. Please keep your story to around 700 words. Please include your phone number in case I have questions. Deadline for articles in Sobriety in Stumptown is the end of each month. I really look forward to hearing from you. -In service, Jennifer L., editor, newsletter@pdxaa.com Step Three Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Tradition Three -Reprinted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. -Reprinted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Portland Area Intergroup 825 NE 20 th Ave, Suite 200, Portland. Open M-F, 9:00AM to 5:00PM, God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. -Reprinted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. 8