“Our own lives and sanity are in jeopardy if we don’t help those who are still sick.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 81

Early on in recovery, I remember hearing the Fifth Tradition being read at meetings. “Each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the marijuana addict who still suffers.” It was inspiring to think that I was part of a group that had a purpose, and not just any purpose, but a primary purpose; that purpose was to carry the message to the suffering addict. My sponsor further reinforced this mantra and the benefits of doing service, by frequently reminding me that, “service keeps you sober.”

At first, I just accepted this suggestion at face value, because my early recovery was too busy for closer inspection. After many years of being clean and sober, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the many ways in which service benefits my recovery. Pausing to care about someone else’s suffering gives me freedom from the bondage of ego and self-will. Putting that care into action means going to meetings, sharing my experience, making outreach calls to check on people, and even helping to organize events at district and world levels.

All these things remind me that I’m not alone, that I’m part of something larger and greater than myself. I’ve even modified the phrase to make it rhyme: “Service gives you purpose.”

Final thought: Today, I will carry the message, not only because it helps my fellows, but also because it helps me just as much.