The NA Third Step SUCKS?

[Chance]

There is some real controversy happening right now in a group here. It is so sad! I feel as if Narcotics Anonymous here might be in real trouble for the actions of this statement "The Third Step SUCKS, Let's close with the Lords Prayer."

A member of this group came over to our group and told me that he wanted me to attend this meeting (And BTW I started this group almost 3 years ago). I didn't know if I should, however I said that I would. I went over there about 4 days ago. This meeting was one of the strongest meetings here for so long but has really taken a fall since some of us left the meeting in July because of all the crap that was going on....and the crap continued.

I went over there and the meeting was in fact a spirituality meeting but turned into more than that it was brought up through someone the 4th Tradition.

"Each Group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or NA as a whole."

The real issue is that when the chair said this there was a newcomer in the meeting, and when the guy said that the Third Step of NA SUCKS, this guy got up and left. So back to the meeting now....

Because of this incident, which now I know that I should have stayed out of...many people of this group has left because since the above statement did effect NA as a whole, the meeting really isn't even considered a group. I am having a real hard time here with this and it has been effecting my serenity and the reason for that is because I got in the middle of this **** when I knew better. I even made a few people feel very uncomfortable by my actions, in which I tried to call one in particular but he won't answer the phone and he said that he will NEVER go back to the meeting.

I am POWERLESS over this and yet I was about to email NAWS to see what should be done if anything. This has been really hard for me because I do have a huge amount of emotion for this group because of the way in which it started almost 3 years ago. However this is NOT my home group now and hasn't been since July 21 of last year. I am not sure what to do if anything. I guess that I just needed to get this out for it is really tearing me up

I guess what I am asking is for some guidance from you all here. I hope that there is a solution for I don't like being part of the Problems anymore. Thanks for letting me vent.

With Love and Respect

Vic

[best]

Originally Posted by Chance

This meeting was one of the strongest meetings here for so long but has really taken a fall since some of us left the meeting in July because of all the crap that was going on....and the crap continued.

I went over there and the meeting was in fact a spirituality meeting but turned into more than that it was brought up through someone the 4th Tradition.



The real issue is that when the chair said this there was a newcomer in the meeting, and when the guy said that the Third Step of NA SUCKS, this guy got up and left. So back to the meeting now....

Because of this incident, which now I know that I should have stayed out of...many people of this group has left ....
.... and he said that he will NEVER go back to the meeting.

I am POWERLESS over this

You may be powerless over it but someone else isn't powerless over it *Smile*

A good thing about bad meetings...people leave and bad meetings don't stick around so long.
Time corrects things Vic.
Still sad to see what started as good turn sour but the quality people that made the good start of things will be around to make other meetings quality as well. What goes around comes around... That works for good things as well as bad. Those of you who uphold the quality will always have the quality keep coming around.

[SaTiT]

okay....okay.....I won't be part of the problem anymore.lmaf

Anyhow, there is the NA Guidelines...it's thicker than the Basic Text.

I too had a special bond to a meeting, becuase I sat there
many, many nights alone, just to keep the door open.
It was a Book study and not much attended.
But that same meeting saved my ass many years before
becuase the door was opened and the only person there
was just the secutary. Years later the meeting started to get crazy.

As Best saids...my sponsor had to pull me aside,thou.
My sponsor is also the founder of NA in my area... so whatever
pride I had, I'm sure he understood it better than me.

But since , the good lord deem to shut down that meeting.
Becuase the damn room wasn't being cleaned or mop.
You know...when you're a leader you're actaully just the janitor with a title.
The good lord deem that I go serach high and low for another
establishment or building to have that meeting. One of my sponsee
got volunteered to be the secutary of that meeting, and he ask me
for help.lol So we worked together looking for another places.
So ..I guess #3 three dose sucks.... in a way.lmaf
I truned my life over and somtimes i have to do things i don't wanna.

I still belive it's God's meeting and whatever happened was ment to be.
There's lessons in it for every one of us
Service Work ...you know what i mean.

[Gmoney]

Hi Vic,

Sorry to hear that your feelings got all twisted up over this and I'm sure you have the tools to get through it. It just doesn't feel good right now. I certainly understand.

But what comes to mind immediately for me is: Why did you leave the group in the first place? I mean...if it was such a good meeting only a few years ago, what happened to make you leave? I know that groups tend to decline for various reasons over time and as it has been mentioned, "bad" meetings usually don't last too long.

The next question I have is: Is the opinion of a newcomer so important? I mean, maybe I got it twisted, but whoever made the statement is entitled to their opinion but that doesn't make them right. And if the group endorses the views of a few strong personalities and steer away from the principles of NA, members have the option of taking it up at their ASC meeting. But even before it goes that far, members with experience in working the program have a responsibility to maintain an atmosphere of recovery in any meeting they attend. IMHO, this includes standing up for our program by sharing the advantages, benefits and positive purpose of Step 3.

I know if I had been present I would have shared long and hard about how the 3rd step DOESN'T suck and that NA isn't a religious program or fellowship. To stand idly by and "stay out of it" (as you put it), to me would have been an indirect endorsement of an anti-NA viewpoint. And guess what? I wouldn't have cared who liked or didn't like it.

You may be powerless, but you certainly aren't helpless. It takes courage to change the things you can, and we never really know what that is until we try. I applaud your courage and integrity.

GarryW.