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Being of Service
In addition to finding a spiritual
way of life, recovery is about changing negative aspects of our
personalities into positive ones.
We came
into the program with big egos but little or no self-esteem. We thought we
were better than other people yet, at the same time, felt "less
than." We were people who took from others and abused friendships all
of our lives. We had no concept of doing anything for anyone without the
thought of some kind of reward.
By the
sheer grace of our Higher Powers, we have found several ways of unlearning
such behavior in the program. One way is to be of service to the fellowship
of Cocaine Anonymous. We discovered that the best way to serve God was to
serve our fellow humans, and we found humility in the process. Our
self-centered behavior was gradually replaced with the "attitude of
service." We learned that service is about gratitude and learning how
to contribute to our lives and the lives of others.
Why Be of
Service?
- · To give back what was so freely given to us
- · To take on a commitment as a symbolic way of making
amends
- · To meet other recovering addicts
- · To learn how to be part of a team
- · To learn humility by doing something selfless for
someone else
- · To learn skills or teach others what we know
- · To learn responsibility
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Ways To Be of Service
Service
Opportunities at the Meeting and Area Level
Meeting
Setup
- Arrive early to set up chairs, make coffee, and greet newcomers.
Hotline - Did you find CA
through a hotline? Answer the phones for your area's hotline and be on the
"front-line" of helping others find CA and recovery.
Treasurer - Pass the 7th
Tradition basket and keep track of funds for a meeting - it's a great way
to learn responsibility.
GSR/DSR (Group/District
Service Representative) - Get involved in the business aspects of CA by
representing one of your meetings or districts at your District/Area
business meeting.
Secretary - Ensure that a
meeting will always be there for those who need it by choosing speakers,
paying the rent, and keeping it running smoothly and consistently. You
might even consider helping the fellowship grow by starting a new meeting.
Committees
at the Area and/or World Service Level Convention - Help plan big
sober parties and carry the message of recovery at the same time.
Literature - If you have
writing skills or ideas that could reach out in print to people who are
still suffering, express those ideas on this World Service committee.
Finance - Put your
accounting, business, or money management skills to good use in CA's
financial matters.
Public
Information - Reach out through the media to those who have never heard
of CA.
Hospitals
& Institutions - Help develop new ways to reach out to people who are
unable to reach out for themselves.
Unity - Enhance
communication and outreach among the diverse elements within our
fellowship.
Structure
& Bylaws - Formulate bylaws, guidelines, and structures by which CA
can operate.
Conference - Help organize the
World Service Conference each year, where delegates from all over the world
meet to conduct CA business.
Area
& World Service Office Boards of Directors - Serve as a
Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, or Director at Large.
Conduct the day-to-day business operations of CA to ensure that it is there
for newcomers the way it was there for you.
Ask your
GSR who you can contact for more information about how to be of service.
Suggestions
Share a commitment, such as a hotline slot, if your schedule doesn't allow
you to have one of your own. Find a place where you can be of service and
then give 100%.
Volunteer
at a meeting when help is asked for or better yet, before it is asked for.
Encourage
the people you sponsor to take on commitments and then help them to keep
those commitments.
Ask your
sponsor what type of service commitment you could take on that would best
serve the fellowship.
Adopt the
attitude of service without reward.
Remember...
Time spent working on a commitment is time not spent getting loaded
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