...that new person, or is it the old timer? Make no mistake about it. Everyone in that AA Room is important!  Each is present at an AA meeting to reap the harvest of the teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous. But the new person? He or she may be plain scared, maybe angry, but not likely to be glad to be there. His attendance may be “court or spousal-directed.” Deep inside herself, she recognizes she may be embarking on making serious changes in her life. Ask yourself how you felt at your first AA meeting? Remember, Step 12 calls us to reach out to these new folks, to carry the message to them.

What’d’ I see that first day: A “lead meeting,” at East One, basement of a branch bank, Tuesday night at 8, smoking and coffee encouraged.  Walking in I saw only strangers. I of course sat in back. People were laughing, welcoming each other. A guy leaned across chairs, asked my name, shook hands, said “I’m George, welcome.” Others followed, I guess it was apparent I was there for the first time, ...strange, no one had a last name. I met Art, Sally, and others before the meeting started. Did I feel “important?” No way. That was the last thing I wanted. Just let me sit in this corner!

We started. Seemed strange. They read some sentences from a book and Art handed me what I later learned was the Twelve Steps and some other stuff and asked me to read a paragraph.  People read from what I came to know as “the Big Book” and it was indeed “big”. A basket was passed, announcements, then the Chair said, “Anyone here for the first time, just tell us your name so we can greet you”. I froze. A guy stood up (must have been sixty or so) and said, “Charlie, I’m an alcoholic”. A couple others followed. People sorta looked at me, so I stood, “Jim,” and sat down.  No way I was going to tell them I was an alcoholic. I didn’t even want to admit it to myself, and I wasn’t going to admit it to a group of people I’d never seen before. What if I ran into them at Kroger’s and a guy said, “Hi, good to see you at the AA meeting Tuesday, next week I’m givin’ the lead.”

Then the evening’s speaker, Bill, gave the lead I’ll never forget, ever. For 45 minutes he told his story. I was torn. Much of what he said was the same path I’d traveled… razz-ma-tazz at college and into my 20s, early 30s, but bumps started appearing, difficulties at home, and more, lots of laughter from others, nodding of heads of agreement, “Yeah, I did that!” We clapped for the speaker and with a prayer, and (imagine) holding hands, said something about, “...it works if you work it”, and off I went to ponder all I’d heard and seen.

To be Continued on May 8^. At Red Door.

Jim A, St X Noon & Franklin/Springboro, Wednesday Noon