Are You in the Fellowship or The Program

There seems to be some confusion about this. It seems that some confuse the difference, they seem to think that just because it says” you are a member of A.A. (N.A., C.A., ETC...)If you say you are” or that by going to meetings, you are in the program. No you are in the “fellowship” of whichever fellowship you attend. Mind you there is nothing wrong with being in the “fellowship”, the fellowship is needed it is where you meet people who are also in “the program” it’s where you learn about “the program”; It is where you will find a sponsor and support system. Being part of “the fellowship “has been known to get a person clean and sober. However in over 90% of cases “the fellowship” will not keep you clean and sober. It will get a “horse thief” clean and sober, however then all you have is a “clean and sober horse thief”. These are the ones you see all the time or hear—yea I’ve been around or in the program for 2 to 5 years, however they have a hard time putting together any real clean time, usually around 6 months. Or these are the ones you hear saying yea the program doesn’t work I’ve tried it, it never worked for me. The reason it never worked for these people and probably never will is because they are in or have tried the fellowship. They have never been in “the program”.

I have a few simple questions for those that say those things to me. I ask them, do you have a sponsor? How much time do they have? How often do you see them, and talk to them? Do you have a support system? Who are they, are they all clean and sober? What step are you on? Do you go over your steps with your sponsor? In 99 % of the cases I don’t get past the third question without hearing excuses. It is really simple, we read it every meeting in “How It Works” (the title should tell you something) “here are the steps we took which are suggested as a program of recovery. There it is simple black and white, read at every meeting. Yet still some of you don’t get it. Further on this is the Forward to the First Edition of the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous, The Grandfather of all 12 step program(to which there are over 300) It says This book was written to show you “PRECISELY” how we have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body”. No kind of or sort of or the basic idea to pick and choose. No it says PRECISELY, what part of precisely is unclear. Do the steps, as laid out in the order they are presented, the book also says to “put pen to paper” it does not say only put pen to paper when you feel like it or only to step four. So I do not take the chance I put pen to paper for all 12 steps, and it is amazing the stuff I learn, about self. In the process it hasn’t been a need for me to use or drink in over 18 years, in addition I have become a better person, my life is happier. There are people in my life who respect, trust, love and admire me. All this from the grace of God and following the suggestions (Doing the twelve steps repeatedly). Yes they are suggestions, We suggest you do these things if you want a better life, if you want to get and stay clean and sober, if you want to become joyous happy and Free. It’s like the suggestion—if you are going to take a crap, we suggest you lower your trousers first. Pretty simple.
Remember God does not create garbage