NA JUST FOR TODAY - DECEMBER 2014

[MajestyJo]

December 17, 2014

Service motives

Page 367

"Everything that occurs in the course of NA service must be motivated by the desire to more successfully carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers."

Basic Text p. xvi

Our motives are often a surprise to us. In our early days of recovery, they were almost always a surprise! We've learned to check our motives through prayer, meditation, the steps, and talking to our sponsor or other addicts. When we find ourselves with an especially strong urge to do or have something, it's particularly important to check our motives to find out what we really want.

In early recovery, many of us throw ourselves into service with great fervor before we have started the regular practice of motive-checking. It takes awhile before we become aware of the real reasons for our zeal. We may want to impress others, show off our talents, or be recognized and important. Now, these desires may not be harmful in another setting, expressed through another outlet. In NA service, however, they can do serious damage.

When we decide to serve NA, we make a decision to help addicts find and maintain recovery. We have to carefully check our motives in service, remembering that it's much easier to frighten away using addicts than to convince them to stay. When we show them game-playing, manipulation, or pomposity, we present an unattractive picture of recovery; However, the unselfish desire to serve others creates an atmosphere that is attractive to the addict who still suffers.


Just for Today: I will check my motives for the true spirit of service.

My sponsor always told me to examine my motive and intent and make things right with my God. My sponsor told me once that I had too many sponsors that I was spreading myself thin and not being fair to them, my family, or to myself; and was told to get my ego out of the way. I didn't like that, after all they picked me, they asked me, etc.

A woman who wanted credit for doing service for NA in the jail got me banned from going into the jail by saying that I went into the jail to pick up sponsees. I volunteered at a recovery house and many of the women ended up there and they asked me to be there temporary sponsor until they moved on to other recovery treatment facilities or left to go back to their homes. I didn't see them in my home our outside of the house or at meetings (AA Women's Group and NA meetings).

It took me two years to get back into doing service in the jail, I had done it for Young Offender for AA originally, wet back for AA in the Women's section, then went in for Al-Anon to all departments..