Last week I "carefully" recalled my mental map to Happy Valley Falls, a very special place to me near Tucson, but mostly known only to locals.
I described that the distance was about eight miles in, and that the road at one point crossed a shallow stream (or, does the stream cross the road?)For
my friends, who did trudge on and get to experience this desert grotto for themselves, it was 13 miles in and seven or eight stream crossings. Wow.
To me, this is the program; this is "how".
AA was freely given to me, and I was able to pass it on, to the best of my ability. However, my sobriety road map isn't EXACTLY like someone else's. As thoroughly as I can, I broadcast my message from my heart, from my recollections of my personal trip. My memories of trekking to the program come from my own experience, first hand, but they are only memories. Once again, I realize (yea, God) that I cannot get someone sober; I cannot carry them to Happy Valley Falls; I can only give them, freely, my best message and then it is up to them and their higher power to cross the one stream or the seven and to travel the eight miles or the 13, whatever is their trip, not mine.
Thank you AA for teaching me.
