Becoming Part Of It is the common experience for many of us
to feel like we didn’t fit in anywhere. Drugs
gave us that instantaneous feeling of belonging.
When we get sober, that drug-induced
feeling of belonging disappears. Finding a
group of sober people we can relate to is a
new start for us. We go to meetings as often
as possible, preferably every day.
Before long, we find we are most comfortable
at one particular meeting. Because we
feel “at home” there, we join the home group
and commit to attending regularly. Other
home group members get to know who we
are, and we get to know them. We never
have to be alone again. On a bad day, we
find there is usually someone there who understands
and who can help us get through
it sober.
The Home Group
As newcomers, we hear the suggestion to
get a “Home Group,” but we aren’t sure why.
Many of us have been in isolation for the
last months or years of our using. We feel
apart from society and need to connect with
people who understand. We find those
people at meetings of Cocaine Anonymous.
Temporary Sponsorship
Since our home group gets to know us quite
well, they can sometimes act as our sponsor
at the beginning of our recovery until we
get one of our own. They give us suggestions
and listen to our troubles. They explain
what the steps are for and may even
get us started on the work. They give us
hope to continue on our journey.
A Power Greater Than Ourselves
Sometimes it is difficult to develop a concept
of a Power greater than ourselves. Our
drugs had been such a power, but what could
be greater than that? As we begin to work a
program of recovery, we learn that we are
defenseless against our addiction. We need
a Power greater than ourselves, greater than
our addiction. There may be no better place
to start than with a group of sober addicts.
Our own concept of a Higher Power will
come in time as we work the Twelve Steps.
Until then, it is good to have the power of
the group with us.
Twelve Step Work/ Service
We often wonder how we can carry the message
to the addict who still suffers before
we get through working all of the steps. The
answer is service. Wasn’t it important to us
to have someone at the door to welcome
us? Was there coffee made? Did someone
take the time to greet us? Were there
chairs set up? Who read the readings at
the beginning of the meeting? Was there
someone to empty the ashtrays? We can
find a way to help no matter how long we
have been sober. We are told that getting
out of ourselves is one of the best things for
us for us to do, and serving our home group
is a wonderful way to start.
Responsibility
In our active addiction, we were often irresponsible
and unaccountable. We often
placed blame on others and none on ourselves.
Taking on responsibility at our home
group is a good step forward. Although you
probably won’t become treasurer at your first
business meeting, you might become the
coffee person, showing up early to make
sure the coffee is ready for the early birds
and staying late to clean up the pots and
cups. There are a variety of positions that
need to be filled at most groups: Chairperson,
Secretary, Group Service Representative
(GSR), Greeter, Coffee Maker, Chips
and Literature Representative, Floor
Sweeper and others. All are very important.
There is always something you can do, no
matter how long you have been sober. Being
of service at your home group is a great
way to practice being a responsible member
of society.
The benefits of becoming involved in a home
group are more than you can probably imagine.
It can be an important part of the process
that ultimately keeps us clean and sober.
One of our original members writes, “It
occurred to me that when many of us walk
through the doors of Cocaine Anonymous
for the first time, we do so without hope, without
faith, but with an ounce of courage. We
listen to the stories and experiences of others
and develop hope. As a result of coming
back, and coming back, and coming back
and working the Twelve Steps, we acquire
an abundance of faith.” (Hope, Faith, & Courage
xxviii-xxix).
We encourage you to keep going to meetings
until you find yourself a home group –
and no matter what, keep coming back.
Approved Literature. Copyright 2003, Cocaine Anonymous World Services, Inc.
