| We are people who normally would not mix …
I was in Montreal on a business trip; I had looked up meetings in the area of the hotel I was staying prior to going. One evening I excused myself from one of the business dinners opting to go to a meeting instead, clearly I told no one why I did not need to.
Not knowing Montreal I looked on a map and decided to walk. It was further than I guessed but it was a nice evening. As I walked, the neighborhood started getting a little tougher, a little more like areas of NYC I knew to stay out of when I lived there. But I felt safe, just a little uncomfortable.
I get to the church where the meeting was being held. As I walked towards it I was approached by three people asking for money, not unexpected for this area of a city. I entered the church and headed for the meeting room feeling a little uneasy.
Once inside the meeting I noticed that I was the only one in business attire and immediately became self-aware of being out of place. The meeting started to fill up and one of those that joined was one that just asked me for money outside. The room had chairs in the back for those who only came in for coffee and cookies and not to take part.
Well all I can think of is I need to leave. But embarrassment is keeping me from getting up and walking out so I stay.
When the meeting starts and the sharing begin I listened. I listened to some who were homeless, some with problem beyond alcohol, and some with legal and financial problems I never considered for myself. But in all of this I heard about fear, low self esteem, depression, uncontrolled drinking, inappropriate behaviors while drinking, I heard about ME! I heard Hope; I heard about Higher Powers, I heard about recovery and I witness the program working in these people.
This was a moving experience; here were people just like me yet nothing like me. We were clearly people who normally would not mix.
I thank my Higher Power for that meeting; this was a wonderful meeting for me.
Al
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