I think it's fair to say at this point that the AA meeting I attended was better than any church service. The honestly, vulnerability, messiness, and humility was overpowering. The alcoholics in that group have shown me God, how awesome His power is, and that when it comes down to it, He is in control. One woman described Him as "the God I don't understand" while another retorted "He wouldn't be much of a God if I understood Him". Their testimonies of change and growth while continuously claiming that it is simply by God's grace, inspire my heart. I left thinking, man, I want that. I want an honest community where we can share our struggles and ALL admit that we are sinners and we ALL have to rely on God's grace to live in any capacity.
One of the things that touched my heart most was when an elderly gentleman commented about a prayer that he said when he wasn't saying what he was thankful for. It went, "God, thank you for all you have given me. Thank you for the things you have taken away from me. Thank you for the things you left with me." My heart welled up. Yes. God, thank you for all You have given me. Thank You for the things you have taken away from me, and thank You for the things You have left with me. I forget to thank God for the things He has taken away from me. He has taken so much away: sadness, depression, loneliness, anger, bitterness, my "plans", friends, and "stability". All for my good.
I cannot wait to go to two more AA meetings.
2 comments:
i remember feeling very similarly after my first AA meeting. i told someone, i liked it better than church and wished people were as welcoming at church as they were of us.
I like that story. Wouldn't it be awesome if that was church?
I wouldn't have much to confess though, since I am perfect.
Post a Comment