Story submitted by: Christoph E.
Sobriety Date: 09/10/2010
I was about 60 days sober in an A.A. meeting when I heard an announcement for the Taos Mountain Fiesta planning meeting that night. The long timer sitting next to me leaned over and said “You ought to check that out.” I had nothing else to do that night. My life at that point was split between being “in an A.A. meeting” and “waiting for the next meeting.” It was either sitting at home alone thinking about not drinking or staying in the middle of the herd. I was willing to take direction. So I went. And wouldn’t you know, I was nominated to be Chairman of the Coffee Committee. I was a little stunned if not somewhat hesitant. I had been given a responsibility. The event was still 10 months away. I didn’t know if I would stay sober for another 24 hours much less 10 months. But by nominating me, these A.A. brothers and sisters showed me they had trust and faith that my Higher Power “could do for me what I couldn’t do for myself.” At that point I embraced our Third Legacy of Service in Alcoholics Anonymous. That was November of 2010. I have included A.A. service in my daily recovery ever since.
Amazingly, my Higher Power has done for me what I couldn’t do for myself and every day continues to do these things. Over these years now of recovery I have been gifted opportunities to accept responsibility to serve the fellowship that has given me a wonderful life of sobriety. I have been climbing down the ladder of the A.A. service structure and I get to experience humility with every step I take. Though I have these responsibilities on the lower rungs of our service ladder, I continue to serve at the top of the ladder with my home group. For that, to me, is the most important service I can do because that’s where I can lean over to the lost newcomer, just like I was, and say “You ought to check that out.”