With thanks to Dr. Brian Ayotte for telling me this story and letting me share it.

When I told a few friends that I was going to do a series on the Twelve Step program at church, Brian shared this story with us.

Years ago, his uncle was traveling through the United States.  It was a long journey and he had a lot of time to reflect on his life; he also had a lot of time to thing about how much he wanted a drink.  He’d been down that road before and he knew he needed help to stay sober.

He stopped in a little town and asked at a local service station if there might be an AA meeting that he could attend. After some discussion and consultation, he was directed to a particular house on a nearby street.

He knocked on the door and was greeted by a man and led to a coffee table with a few AA pamphlets on it.  After a bit of small talk, the uncle asked, `When does the meeting start?”  “Whenever you’d like it to start”, was the reply. “Where are the others?” asked Brian’s uncle.  “You are the first one who’s ever showed up”, said the man.

“How long have you been doing this?”

“Seven years.”

Seven years!  Seven years of faithfully waiting.  Seven years of quiet hospitality and offering the gift of the twelve step recovery program.  Brian’s uncle credits this man with saving his life.

Here at Sicamous United Church we are working our way through the Twelve Step program this spring.  You don’t have to be an alcoholic to benefit from A.A.  We are all addictive by nature – if not to drugs and alcohol, then to our own thought processes, our own `stinkin’ thinkin’.  We’ll be here Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM,705 Trans Canada Frtg. Rd, whether many or few.  The good news will be shared, and the coffee will be on.  You’re most welcome to drop in.

Blessings, Rev. Juanita Austin