Watching the promises happen...

Despite the craziness of the weekend I was able to squeeze in a Saturday morning meeting. (My daughter is doing better, not in school yet, but better). At this meeting a fellow AA member celebrated nine years. I've spoken with this man a few times but really didn't know his story. I also know his sponsor who is just a great guy and when he presented him with his nine year chip he said, "here you go buddy, I know you have been waiting for this for a long time". The person receiving the chip began to share his story and explained why that comment was so true. This was the first chip he had received out of prison and in his words, "they don't hand out brass chips in prison". I was stunned. This person has the sweetest face you ever did see and I could tell I wasn't the only one who was surpised by this. Prison? No way, but as we all know alcoholism doesn't descriminate. When I first met this man it was at a Saturday morning meeting. He was bright, cheerful and really talkative. I thought because I was a newcomer maybe he was being extra nice. But I soon came to know that this was just his demeanor. Upbeat, helpful, willing to always go the extra mile and excited about the program of AA. His story was so inspiring. As he told of the years in prison, becoming sober in an environment where drugs and alcohol are twice as easy to get on the inside than on the outside. How his family supported him, how he has been able to sponsor someone else, and how he's back in school getting the education he always wanted. He even found other AA members on campus and started a noon meeting. I sat there listening with this huge grin on my face. He broke into tears of greatfulness and your heart just swells at these moments. Moments when you see God and another human being walking hand and hand down life's journey. I was so grateful to be there and share this moment with him and everyone else at the meeting. It just set the tone for the whole hour. Everyone was happy, and upbeat. Of course there was cake afterwards but what a joyful celebration. It's times like these that I wish I could capture and put on an old viewmaster,so you could show newcomers that it's worth the time, the pain, the misery just so you can stay with it to see the promises start to come true. I left feeling on cloud nine. Is life perfect? no, will it ever be? no, but it can be filled with peace, happiness, and a sense of well being. As they say at meetings, "keep coming back, it works if you work it, it sucks if you don't"..............