[Emimily]

hmm. well, i'm sorry you have a bad taste in your mouth about AA. i know plenty of sober guys who are nothing like the men you described. most of the men i know meet their sponsees at coffee shops before meetings, or on weekends, or whatever works and they go through the big book and work the steps. one of my best friends picks his sponsees up to take them to a meeting once a week. another one of my friends works the steps so thoroughly that his sponsees know more about AA than i do sometimes.

i think there's a lot to be said for open mindedness and willingness, especially if you've had a bad experience in AA before. maybe different meetings? maybe you are different? maybe different people? or maybe AA's not the right fit for you... in our literature, it's made crystal clear that AA doesn't have a monopoly on God or ways to get sober.

the steps are designed to bring you closer to your higher power, which you choose to call God. surrender, confess your faults, ask God to remove your character defects, start clearing up your side of the street, continue to do the first 4, and carry it on. not too terribly complicated.

my miracle is that i am alive and useful, not drunk or dead or completely void of any purpose. that miracle came from working the steps with a sponsor, staying sober, making mistakes and not drinking over them, and being as honest, open minded, and willing as possible. sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly but always one day at a time.