dalin
01-15-2009, 01:25 PM
I’ve seen my share of conventions and it seems there are
two main themes at nearly every one. #1 is that our main goal here is
to help the newcomer & to carry the message of N.A., & 2nd is screw
whatever I’ve learned in NA about character defects, & do whatever
you want. It’s a free for all!
Does anyone ever wonder why we’re never have a
convention at the same place twice? It’s not because we wouldn’t
like to; It’s because the hotels don’t want NA members as a whole
back on their property. Do you know why? There are many reasons,
but allow me to name a few. Let’s start off with the “hot sex” going
on with multiple partners in nearly every hot tub around, or the
people running around destroying hotel property “just for fun”. Then
there the 50 addicts standing out front smoking when they were
specifically asked not to, or the other 100 people who refused to
register just because they couldn’t bring themselves to follow “the
rules”. Is it just that most people don’t realize their actions are a
direct reflection on NA? Actually the sick s$@! Is, that a lot of
people just don’t care! That’s sad. The very fellowship that gives us
life is being desecrated simply because some don’t care. “Rebellion
is a character defect that spoils us here, but “We need not to lose
faith when we become rebellious” (Basic Text pg. 34).
You see, when we sign contracts with the hotels, there are
rules and regulations that go along with that contract. So when
serenity patrol come along & asks someone to do something, they are
not saying it to be an ass; they are saying it to protect the individual
&, most importantly, NA as a whole. Many of us lived our lives in
revolt. Our initial response to any type of direction is often negative.
Automatic rejection of authority seems to be a troubling character
defect for many addicts (Just 4 Today pg 262). So instead of treating
serenity patrol as the “other”, look at them for what they are…
another addict doing service. Because in reality, that is all they are,
“One Addict helping another, not an authority figure as many may
perceive them to be. Remember if you’re not a part of the solution,
you’re a part of the problem & conventions are there for a weekend
of recovery: good, clean fun. Being at convention is not like walking
through a vortex into a parallel universe thus protecting us from the
outside world & its consequences. And so we must stay vigilant in
all situations & in all areas o four lives. Step ten frees us from the
wreckage of our present. “If we do not stay aware of our defects,
they can drive us into a corner that we cannot get out of clean” (Basic
text pg. 41).
Listen I really love conventions & that’s why I’m writing
this. There are only so many hotels in each area. If we burn all our
bridges, in the future, where will we have NA conventions?
Conventions are a celebration and the fun of our recovery. Let’s face
it, we didn’t get clean to be miserable. Remembering that what we
do at a NA function, in which is held in the public eye is a direct
reflection on NA as a whole. Help us stay vigilant so the next time
you are getting ready to act out at a convention or even a NA event,
remember the survival of NA & the future of NA just may very well
rest on your shoulders. This program is a precious gift from God &
should be treated as such.
two main themes at nearly every one. #1 is that our main goal here is
to help the newcomer & to carry the message of N.A., & 2nd is screw
whatever I’ve learned in NA about character defects, & do whatever
you want. It’s a free for all!
Does anyone ever wonder why we’re never have a
convention at the same place twice? It’s not because we wouldn’t
like to; It’s because the hotels don’t want NA members as a whole
back on their property. Do you know why? There are many reasons,
but allow me to name a few. Let’s start off with the “hot sex” going
on with multiple partners in nearly every hot tub around, or the
people running around destroying hotel property “just for fun”. Then
there the 50 addicts standing out front smoking when they were
specifically asked not to, or the other 100 people who refused to
register just because they couldn’t bring themselves to follow “the
rules”. Is it just that most people don’t realize their actions are a
direct reflection on NA? Actually the sick s$@! Is, that a lot of
people just don’t care! That’s sad. The very fellowship that gives us
life is being desecrated simply because some don’t care. “Rebellion
is a character defect that spoils us here, but “We need not to lose
faith when we become rebellious” (Basic Text pg. 34).
You see, when we sign contracts with the hotels, there are
rules and regulations that go along with that contract. So when
serenity patrol come along & asks someone to do something, they are
not saying it to be an ass; they are saying it to protect the individual
&, most importantly, NA as a whole. Many of us lived our lives in
revolt. Our initial response to any type of direction is often negative.
Automatic rejection of authority seems to be a troubling character
defect for many addicts (Just 4 Today pg 262). So instead of treating
serenity patrol as the “other”, look at them for what they are…
another addict doing service. Because in reality, that is all they are,
“One Addict helping another, not an authority figure as many may
perceive them to be. Remember if you’re not a part of the solution,
you’re a part of the problem & conventions are there for a weekend
of recovery: good, clean fun. Being at convention is not like walking
through a vortex into a parallel universe thus protecting us from the
outside world & its consequences. And so we must stay vigilant in
all situations & in all areas o four lives. Step ten frees us from the
wreckage of our present. “If we do not stay aware of our defects,
they can drive us into a corner that we cannot get out of clean” (Basic
text pg. 41).
Listen I really love conventions & that’s why I’m writing
this. There are only so many hotels in each area. If we burn all our
bridges, in the future, where will we have NA conventions?
Conventions are a celebration and the fun of our recovery. Let’s face
it, we didn’t get clean to be miserable. Remembering that what we
do at a NA function, in which is held in the public eye is a direct
reflection on NA as a whole. Help us stay vigilant so the next time
you are getting ready to act out at a convention or even a NA event,
remember the survival of NA & the future of NA just may very well
rest on your shoulders. This program is a precious gift from God &
should be treated as such.