Meeting

[johnnym]

Had a guy show up at my meeting completely drunk last night. This is about the third time I've seen him do this. Tradition three is very powerful but I find myself getting more annoyed with him each time. I don't want to judge but I don't know why in the hell anyone would show up at a meeting drunk. Any advice on handling this situation? Hope everyone is doing well. God Bless!

[MrDuck]

You could start by asking him if he has the desire to stop drinking. That is the only requirement one needs to be there.

I was going to tell you something that happen in the past but just as I was going to do it this came to mind.

A friend of mine is a retired captain for a major ariline. He told me about when he use to go Hawaii and go to the AA meetings on the beach. That there was a street lady that would go there. Usually drunk, smelled bad from not bathing, and she would take food and some times money and leave. She bugged the living H_ _ _ out of him. They took him off that route for a couple years and than returned him to it. He was totally surprised. The lady showed up. She was sober, cleaned up and looked very nice. She had straightened her life out and was now employed and living in an apartment. He said he could hardly believe it was the same woman that bugged him so bad a few years before that.

My mession is to carry the word. Not the results.

Ron

[johnnym]

Thanks Ron. I guess to I must remember to practice patience. Its is not my place to judge someone else's program or life for that matter. Cunning,baffling and powerful.

[caressa]

The fact that he was there, shows me that he knows that the answer is there. My son has said for years, "I don't want to go to your anniversary, when I go there, I always want to go to a bar afterward." It was his own denial, but when he had enoough, he knew where the help was.

I have spoke at a meeting were a drunk passed out, fell down, caused disturbance, etc. I am there to carry the message. He was too. To drink, may be to die!

A fellow several years ago use to bring a mickey in his inside suit pocket (even in summer) and have a drink when we broke for a cigarette break. He has been sober several years now and has a wonderful story.

I was chairing a meeting one evening when a woman came drunk. We let her stay until she kept interrupting and giving feed back to all those there. She was a nurse and she told them the solution. I asked her to be quiet and let others share. I said, "You have had your turn, now it is time for others." People were going to get up and leave. Our primary purpose is to carry the message. If people can't hear it or speak it, then I think we need to address that.
I had known the woman for many years, and she was an AA drop in and never had periods of sobriety. The choice was hers. She chose to leave.

I pray your drunk will get sober.