JAN 7, 19 .. THE WRITTEN 10th STEP

WRITTEN TENTH (10^th) STEP ..

In the last full paragraph at the bottom of page 84 of the U.S. ‘Big Book’ we are  told : “This is not an overnight matter.  It should continue for our lifetime.  Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear.  When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them.  We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.”

Below is a WRITTEN TENTH (10th) STEP . This is to be done in hand using pen / pencil and paper NOT on a computer!

Write down the Third Step Prayer (page 63 of the U.S. ‘Big Book’).

 “God, I offer myself to thee – to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!”

Now write:  ‘I have resentments.’

List what you are feeling: ‘I resent ________’.  Continue listing resentments until you cease to actively feel them.  Do NOT stop to ponder them ! 

Now write: ‘I have fears.’

List your fears: ‘I fear (I am afraid of) _________’ . Continue listing your fears until you cease to actively feel them.  Do NOT sit and ponder them!

Now you are going to do a second cycle. 

This second look at your resentments and fears is why you do NOT sit and ponder what you are going to write in the first cycle above.

 

Again write: ‘I resent ________’. Continue listing resentments until you cease to actively feel them. IF you have no resentments on this second cycle just write: “I have no more resentments.”

Again write: ‘I fear (I am afraid of) _________’ . Continue listing fears until you cease to actively feel them. IF you have no fears this second time through just write .. “I have no more fears.”

Write: “God, I am now willing to have you remove these resentments and these fears.”

Write: “God, please remove these resentments and these fears.”

Write the Seventh Step Prayer (page 76 of the U.S. ‘Big Book’).

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”

Write the Eleventh Step Prayer  (page 88 of the U.S. ‘Big Book: “Thy will be done.”

Write: “Thank you God” .. “I love you God” ..

 /s/ sign you name and date your Tenth Step ..

THEN READ YOUR  ENTIRE TENTH  STEP TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

You have just worked eight of the twelve steps !

JAN 4, 19 .. A MOST SPECIAL MEETING IN KYZYL, RUSSIAN SIBERIA

At this point in my life, I have been to, and spoken at, many meetings. Once in awhile, from time to time, a meeting will be very special. This meeting will rank in my top five all time.

To begin with, it was NOT an A.A. Meeting per se. Au contraire! It was a meeting of local people who live in this one district or small individual community of Kyzyl. These kind and gentle folks have real concerns about the major problem of alcoholism and of how it is affecting their youth and their individual lives. I was asked to address this community meeting and to explain to them what A.A. is and how it works.

Do you want special! 

Here you have it : A Very Special Meeting.

Right off the bat, I was deeply touched by the humble paper Christmas Trees when we walked up to the entrance of the building where the meeting was going to be held.

These humble paper Christmas Trees are doing their very utmost to be the Spirit of Christmas.

I was ushered into the office of the Administrative Manager of the Community Council. A lady.

Forgive me BUT I could not resist taking the two below photos!

 I'm not sure IF I have ever seen a glass slipper as a part of someone's mementos celebrating various awards!

She smiled at my taking a photo of her awards.

"Good boy Captain! You did not single out the glass slipper and ask her about it!"

We arrived early. The meeting room was being set up.

The meeting, all of it, was recorded on audio and video. I mean this was a big deal to the local residents.

The meeting was called to order at around 11am.

Then a ONE hour and twenty minute agenda, presentation, celebration, words fail me, followed.

The passion, and the love, and the humble sincerity with which the lady below sang, brought me to tears. She was dressed-up-to-the-nines! I've never been witness to such vocal passion!

She was about five minutes into her presentation when I said to myself : "If I don't snap some photos of her I'll regret not doing so for the rest of my life!"

She had as beautiful a singing voice as I've ever heard.

Then the below couple began to dance to her beautiful singing.

Then the above dancing lady in blue took the microphone.

In the above photo, can you see the first singer in the background?

The man below came out of the gutter to find and to celebrate recovery.

In between the singers, a number of individuals spoke with passion about the issue of alcoholism.

And another group took the stage.

During the above one hour and twenty minute presentation, I began to think to myself : "Captain. How do you follow this build up?"

Patti, somewhere in the mix my nose began to bleed. A real nose bleed. In front of the audience. Then it went on for perhaps 15-minutes. Been here done this. I had toilet paper / napkins / one of Claudia's nose-bleed-plugs to sop-it-up. Luckily it finally stopped before I spoke.

Finally my time came to wrap-up-the-meeting. 

I probably spoke about 30 minutes. I haven't one clue as to what I said but I  felt very good and very positive about it.

During the after-the-meeting meal, many people expressed their thanks to me.

Lord God of Abraham .. Thank You for allowing me this opportunity to carry the message you've given me to carry.