Working With Your Sponsor???

[Larrylive]

Originally Posted by MajestyJo

[I]Always the sponsor first, we can agree to disagree, until I have an enlightenment and see things her way.

I sometimes question the role of sponsors in "today's AA". I suppose it's attitudes like you expressed in the above qoute. Surely not every sponsor is perfectly enlightened in wisdom and the ways of all things. When I hear people share about the tasks their sponsors assign them, like standing in long lines at stores, demanding daily phone calls at set times or mowing their lawns all supposedly to teach patience, discipline and willingness I question the true motives.

Perhaps some are lucky enough to connect with a skilled therapist/counselor for a sponsor. But as adults, I believe we should strive to become mature, responsible problemsolvers in our own rights. Upon completing the steps, particularly 1-9, should someone still feel compelled to seek advise for the daily difficulties that arise in life, I would suggest reconsidering the level of care.

"If you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, if you teach a man to fish he will eat for the rest of his life." Give the sponsee a pole and set them free, to grow, to learn, to experience life, with all it's hardships and rewards. I believe the returns will be much great for it.

Live well,
Larry