Today, (Wed. April 3rd) I went to an AA Meeting
(Alcoholics Anonymous) at St. Mary’s Church in Provo, Utah at noon. I was
nervous but only because of the newness of the situation; I had a very
stereotypical view of what an AA meeting was like. Basically, they sit and talk
about how they are overcoming alcohol addictions right? When I walked in all of
the people were seated at round tables put in a larger circular formation. I
took a seat next to a red headed, middle-aged man and introduced myself. Kelly
and I talked about where we were from and why I was there and he explained how
all of the meetings are run. First the man running the meeting had a moment of
silence for those suffering from alcoholism, I was rifling through The Big Book at this time. Then they read
Chapter 5 pages 1 and 2 of The Big Book
and the Twelve Steps in the back of the book. I was well acquainted with The Big Book by the time I left.
That is literally the title of the AA Recovery Guide, The Big Book. Kelly let me borrow his for the meeting.
As
we progressed throughout the meeting, Don awarded coins to those who had been
sober for a day, two days, a week, two weeks, … all the way to a year. Dennis
got up and celebrated his 60th day of sobriety and Jim celebrated a
sober life of 28 years. After awards, we passed out cake for Jim’s birthday.
Then we began what most people think of when they think of AA Meetings. The
open floor, “never-ending testimony meeting” as Kelly called it. Jim went first
and told us the story of how he cleaned up his act 28 years ago yesterday. None
of them forget the day they stopped drinking. He said his wife and family
kicked him out of the house they had bought in Salt Lake and when he returned
from a rehabilitation center clean and ready to start over a month later they
said, “ We told you it was better without you.” This broke my heart. He said
his wife died of alcoholism 6 years later and he is now on good terms with his
kids.
There
were many heart-wrenching stories that were told and many good people trying to
change. Josie had been off alcohol for two days. This skinny, little, smiley,
maroon headed girl was so beautiful and put together you never would have known
she had any problems at all let alone an alcohol addiction. This is what I got
out of the whole meeting: we can’t judge and when we do because sometimes we
do, we have to be willing to listen to what someone has to say. For example, I
judged Jonathon by his ragged appearance, gruff voice, lack of hygiene, and
eight bags of groceries he brought with him, full of donuts and milk. The man
was scary; he was the only part of the whole meeting I was nervous about. Then
the “Never-ending testimony meeting,” as Kelly called it, started and he got up
and spoke: “Hi, I’m Jonathon and I’m an alcoholic. ‘Hi Jonathon’ I know we need
Him everyday, it’s the way we get through everyday, He reminds us that we can
do this. Thanks” After he spoke I realized that he was not that different from
me at all. I need my Savior every day, all day too; I just don’t have a vivid
reminder of what it is like to not have that constant spirit with me. That was
the coolest part of the meeting was realizing that everyone’s story matters and
if you let people speak you can learn so much more about people. This can
directly relate to my kids in the classroom but, I had an epiphany about
something else as well. Not many kids have alcohol problems, but their parents
might. Being introduced to the AA program today has made me an advocate. It is
an inspired program with a purpose full of tolerance, compassion, and
understanding for others. I definitely
understand what these parents are going through and from most of the stories,
what kids have to go through when a parent is an alcoholic. I can not only
refer them to an AA meeting in full confidence of it’s helpful affects, but I
can sympathize and promise them they will receive empathy from a community full
of wonderful people. We can tell our students about groups in the community
like AA groups that can help their home lives. We can make a difference, and it
doesn’t just have to be in school. Kids face real-world problems. It was fun to
go and be the other. I can help students more than I thought.
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