The holiday season has just passed, and as we turn the page on the New Year, it is an opportunity to reflect. As I look back, I am drawn to a couple of pillars of my personal recovery journey.
For me, fellowship and service are two keys to keeping me in the center of the boat. When I was in my active addiction, I could not imagine a life without drinking. It allowed me to connect with people (or so I thought) and was how I shared moments of celebration and sorrow with friends. My drinking was at the center of my life and became part of who I was. In my mind, it was impossible to enjoy life’s moments without a drink in hand.
Thankfully, through the grace of a power greater than myself, that changed one day. I was blessed with a moment when I asked for help, and somehow, everything changed. February 2, 2007, was the day my new life began.
I would love to say everything was easy from that point on, but it was not—it got more difficult. While I had no desire to drink, I was feeling the emotional pain I had been numbing with alcohol. I needed to find a way to process these feelings and learn how to live again. Through the teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous, I found a blueprint for living a sober life. As part of this, I discovered the importance of true fellowship and service.
The people I met in “the rooms” were always open and accepting. There was no pretense; we all shared one common goal—to stay sober and pass the message to the newcomer. I am proud to say that many of these folks have become my friends, mentors, and one special lady even became my wife.
Fellowship and Service Go Hand in Hand
Service work can be so many things. It can be as simple as putting away chairs after a meeting or helping to organize a sober event for over 1,000 people (check out Soberfest!). In early sobriety, service work was essential to distract me from my own thinking (idle hands are the devil’s workshop). While this is still the case from time to time today, it is more than that now—the service work I do keeps me grounded. It keeps me around newcomers and reminds me of what it was like before that moment when everything changed.
Over the Christmas holiday, I had many opportunities to share in fellowship and also made time for some service work. One of my favorite activities of the year is a great example of fellowship and service going hand in hand. Each year at one of the local meetings, money is raised to help provide presents for the children of some families in need. A group of guys then go shopping one morning before Christmas to purchase toys for about 50 children. From there, the Serenity Street house at 32 Woodrow becomes Santa’s workshop, with holiday music playing and all of us sober elves wrapping presents to the best of our ability.
It is an amazing scene and one that fills me up each year. After everything is wrapped, the gifts are set aside and wait to be delivered to each family on Christmas Eve. It is a beautiful tradition—not just for what it provides to families in need but also for all of us who take part. It is a room full of joy, smiles, and song. A true blessing of sobriety.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, reach out to us today. Hope and healing are possible, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Contact Serenity Street Foundation
- Address: 32 East Woodrow Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43207
- Phone: (614) 358-0207
- Email: serenitystreet32@gmail.com
Remember, the journey to recovery begins with a single step. Let Serenity Street Foundation be your partner in this journey towards a healthier, happier life.
