HUU Sermon Archives

Recovery

Mary Hahn
July 17, 2005

My name is Mary and I'm an alcoholic.

What is an alcoholic? That's a question many people have asked for hundreds of years. The only person who can decide whether or not a person is an alcoholic is the person themselves. Some say it's genetic, some say it's learned, some say it's a psychiatric ailment and some say it just is. The American medical association recognizes it as a disease. I know the results are all the same, death, prison, or recovery.

My family is full of the disease. My Father, my aunt, my cousins, my sisters, and my children have all been there. Out of 8 children of my Father, my aunt and my uncle 6 became alcoholic, 2 of them died of alcoholism, 2 are in recovery, 1 is diseased for a combination of smoking and drinking, 1 never has touched alcohol out of fear and 1 can drink normally. In my own family of 5 sons, 3 are alcoholic and in recovery, another had a problem in the army with alcohol and one can drink normally. I have a grandson struggling with the problem now.

When my son Tim was 16,1 got a call from the Harrisonburg police saying that they had Tim in a drunk tank and would I come pick him up. It was 2 in the morning and fortunately I hadn't been drinking that night. The following morning I called a good friend who had a son who had gone through treatment and was in AA. I made arrangements for Tim to go into the treatment center. When I stopped a stop sign Tim jumped out of the car and ran. That night my friend's son found Tim and told him that if he would go to an AA meeting with him the following he'd let him stay at his place. Tim agreed and we did make arrangements for him to go to a treatment center. Little did I know that while he was there my husband and Tim's twin brother. Matt, would do an intervention on me about my drinking. As it turned out Tim and I started recovery together.

As soon as Tim was released from the treatment center he and I attended the 90 meetings in 90 days recommended by AA. I remember my first meeting distinctly. It was a speakers meeting on a Saturday night at the Club on Waterman Drive. The speaker's meeting is open so anyone can attend. A friend who had been in AA for years assured that this was an easy meeting as all I had to do was listen and not introduce myself. At the end of this meeting they handed out chips for different lengths of sobriety. There is a white chip for those with 24 hours or an intent not to drink. I went to the front of the room and got one of those chips which I still have; it was the most important chip I ever received. I remember being in awe of those receiving medallions for years of sobriety and wondering to myself if I would ever get there. One day at a time I have remained sober. Tim and I have a very close relationship which developed recovering together.

AA was there when I need it and I probably would not be sober today without its help. No one knows why AA works. It is based on the discovery that 2 alcoholics can help each other stay sober and succeed where each on his/her own would probably have failed. An exchange of ideas is an integral part of the program. AA has always recommended abstinence not because alcohol was evil just because that's the only way an alcoholic can be certain to stay sober. AA is a grass roots organization with literally millions of member worldwide. First, and foremost, and finally, AA is a practical self- help group. It isn't a religion, though God is a constant subject and spirituality a constant reference. AA members represent all kinds of faiths. It isn't a treatment program though alcoholics get better through its efforts everyday. AA is geared to the newcomer, "the suffering alcoholic". Despite its emphasis on spirituality and a higher power, every bit of AA wisdom is tied in some way to the practical task of living without alcohol.

There are many kinds of AA meetings. The open meeting open to anyone, the closed meeting open only to alcoholics, women's meetings. There are discussion meetings, big book meetings where the AA book is talked about, 12 step meetings. Meetings are held locally in the Club, and in churches. There are several meetings a day. It is self supporting by alcoholics. There are members of all ages and all walks of life in meetings.

The meeting opens with the serenity prayer and reading of the 12 steps and sometimes the 12 traditions. In a discussion meeting someone names a topic such as gratitude or humility and the discussion centers around the chosen topic. At the end of the meeting the group holds hands and recites the serenity prayer or the Lord's Prayer which one can recite or not. The meetings always last for 1 hour. There is a lot of coffee and socializing both before and after the meeting. Special attention is given to the newcomer, names, phone numbers are exchanged. After one has been in AA for awhile it is suggested that they get a sponsor. This is a person with whom one has identified kinship and feels free to ask questions and call for help when needed. It is an important step in staying sober. AA isn't all meetings. There are picnics, camp outs, and parties to name a few.

I thank my higher power that AA was and is there for me and any other alcoholic who makes the decision to stay sober one day at a time.

Now I will read the 12 steps and 12 traditions of AA.

Link to Alcoholics Anonymous.

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