"It works -- it really does." Hi, my name is Vin, I'm an alcoholic, and those words from the Eleventh Step toward the end of Chapter Six in Alcoholics Anonymous, certainly ring true with me today. I find that when I act the principles behind that declaration moment to moment today, I just seem to live life on life's terms ... one that is usefully and happily whole without any effort on my part. I am also discovering I am given the grace to live that life regardless of what is going on in and around me. In my twelfth year of sobriety, I found out that I had contracted a life-threatening, yet treatable disease. The fear, denial, anger, and self-pity felt so overwhelming when I read the results of my blood tests. "How could God do this to me?" I thought. I called and shared my news with a sober alcoholic whom I had known since I was a newcomer. I am grateful for his honesty and suggestion when I finished sharing my tale of woe. He said, "Vin, I don't know what to tell you to do about your other illness, but why don't you visit Tim (a mutual sober friend) today. He's having kidney surgery and if he survives it, he'll probably appreciate your visit." I took his suggestion and that action broke the downward spiral of my alcoholic mind into that fatal morass of self-pity. Today, five years later, I am sober. Today, I am able to use my experience to benefit others. Today, I am grateful for the myriad gifts that AA gives me. And today, thanks to treatment and the grace of God, my other disease is in remission.

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