That's really cool, John. Glad you can share this with your co-worker.
The first time I went to a meeting I ran into someone who I'd only met once or twice about two years before . . . when I had met this guy, I'd been totally wasted, and he's come to my house and rung my doorbell while I was throwing a party, looking for some other party. Because I was wasted, I invited him in and he came and drank with us. I had just moved to the town and this guy was a total stranger. I realize now it was INSANE to do that sort of thing, but I did stuff like that all the time when I was drinking . . . invited random strangers into my home, etc.
So, seeing him there in AA on that first day was incontrovertible evidence, a reminder of why I was there and how real it was. In an odd way, it also helped to know this guy across the room had seen me in that state. Aside from all the other things that were powerful about that first meeting, having it rooted in "reality" that way had a huge impact.
Thanks for sharing your story.