What is a sponsor?
“We know we can look to our sponsor, but it is our responsibility to get in touch with
them….”
IP No.11, “Sponsorship”
(Revised)
“an NA sponsor is a member of Narcotics Anonymous, living our program of
recovery, who is willing to build a special, supportive, one-on-one relationship with
us.”
IP No. 11, “Sponsorship”, Revised
What is a sponsor? You know: That nice person with whom you had coffee after your
first meeting. That generous soul who keeps sharing recovery experience free of
charge. The one who keeps amazing you with stunning insight regarding your
character defects. The one who keeps reminding you to finish your Fourth Step, who
listens to your Fifth Step, and who doesn’t tell anyone how weird you are.
It’s pretty easy to start taking all this stuff for granted once we’re used to someone
being there for us. We may run wild for a while and tell ourselves, “I’ll call my
sponsor later, but right now I have to clean the house, go shopping, chase that
attractive…” And so we end up in trouble, wondering where we went wrong.
Our sponsor can’t read minds. It’s up to us to reach out and ask for help. Whether
we need help with our steps, a reality check to help us straighten out our screwy
thinking, or just a friend, it’s our job to make the request. Sponsors are warm, wise,
wonderful people, and their experience with recovery is ours-all we have to do is
ask.
Just for today: I’m grateful for the time, the love, and the experience my sponsor
has shared with me. Today, I will call my sponsor.