They found a two million year old skull of a 9 year old boy recently. They say he is a new species and perhaps defines the moment when we transitioned from ape to man. While that is astonishing, we’ve been prepped with the dinosaur statistics for quite some time now. What’s hard to believe is that Alcoholics Anonymous came to us only seventy five years ago. While I was still a lost and broken child, Bill and Bob were having the communion of pain and miracle, eye to eye which gave birth to this worldwide phenomenon. It would seem that with all the wise, religious, and brilliant men and women that have existed for thousands of years, this simple program should have been around a lot sooner. It wasn’t here until the right broken people showed up to receive it and the Grace of God made it grow.
It took me a long time to find out that the International Convention happens only every five years, and a long time for my children to grow up so I could leave town and not miss the joy of them. I attended my first one five years ago. I saw how I was connected to something so much bigger than I ever knew. I saw that we have a divine responsibility to carry the message, that our love is so much greater than our differences, it’s breathtaking. It carries you another five years biding your time so you can see the global miracle again. You don’t have to practice principals over personalities, for a weekend, you become it.
The impact of 60,000 or so people grinning from ear to ear, swarming the streets in rivers of every size, shape, and age that God could think of, is overwhelming. The connectivity starts in your stomach, dances around your heart and shakes out your hand as you met one new friend after another in an elevator, at a hot dog stand or when you spot a familiar face in the crowd. Yet everywhere you are reminded it is a daily reprieve based on your spiritual condition. If you feel alone, it’s your obligation to reach out and get connected. If you see someone else looking lost, it’s your obligation to speak up. Only a fit spiritual condition allows you to do either without fear.
No, it’s not about you, but it’s all about you. Each single person makes the miracle live. As one brother or sister falls, another will take their place. It’s like ring around the rosy, we all hold hands, or we all fall down. As of last night, there are 49,500 people registered for this event July 1-4. I hope to see you in San Antonio when we will hold precious hands around the globe.
Snow@sobercelebrations.com