When Chris attended meetings at our AA clubhouse in 2007, many of us watched with concern as he slipped a half-dozen times before locking in his sobriety date two years later. What’s unusual about Chris’ story is that he very seldom drank until he was in his early 40’s, despite the fact that he had experienced abject loneliness and isolation since childhood. Throw in low confidence, poor self-esteem, and feelings of self-loathing and you get the picture of man who somehow survived a dysfunctional marriage, and the raising of 3 children, without the help of alcohol or drugs. It wasn’t until his second marriage that Chris found alcohol and cocaine and his whole world changed. Relishing the feeling he’d been looking for his entire life, he set out to make up for lost time. Naturally, it didn’t take long for alcoholism to pull the rug out from under him. As booze and drugs rapidly eroded his life, Chris ended up in a psychiatric hospital where he experienced, for the first time, AA meetings brought in from the outside.

Chris started drinking again not long after he got out, but the AA seed had been planted. He went to meetings and even half-heartedly worked the Program, but it took six desire chips over two years before he put the bottle down for good. Sponsored by one of the AA club’s legendary members, Chris’ Program finally took hold. Over the years, I’ve watched Chris become a “middle-dweller” in the Program. He’s a regular meeting attendee, a reliable sponsor, and a trusted servant to both the club and the general AA community. In the process of being of service, Chris has also taken meetings into Texas prisons over the past five years.

I’m grateful for Chris’ presence in AA and in my life, which these days are, one-in-the-same. His ready smile and easy-going nature make all feel comfortable. He’s a daily fixture in our AA club and has become the guy who you hope to see in the next meeting you attend. I think you’ll enjoy the next 65 minutes with my fine friend and AA brother, Chris S.

Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com

If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book if you’d like to read along with the audio.

[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]