I PUT MY HAND IN YOURS

At a retreat years ago in Melbourne, Australia, it started with a trust walk. A trust walk is where half the group closes it eyes and the other half lead them around. Then it is reversed so the other group is led around the room. Only one person did not want to lead others around another because she was blind.

AND TOGETHER WE CAN DO WHAT WE COULD NEVER DO ALONE.

At the end of the day, it bothered me that she had not led because of her blindness, so I talked her into leading me with my eyes closed around the room. I closed my eyes and like I did when I came into the rooms of OA, I trusted that it would be ok if I put my faith in God and the members of OA.

NO LONGER IS THERE A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS, NO LONGER MUST WE EACH DEPEND UPON OUR OWN UNSTEADY WILLPOWER.

As she led me around the room with her cane, I began to hear the program at work as feet were shuffling around, sounds of chairs and tables moving and sounds of love. The members were working hard to help a fellow member through their fear.

WE ARE ALL TOGETHER NOW REACHING OUT OUR HANDS FOR POWER AND STRENGTH GREATER THAN OURS AND AS WE JOIN HANDS,

The power of trust in a higher power, the willingness to go to any lengths and the love we have for each other gave the room a sense of love and strength that transcended the fear of the unknown for one member of the fellowship.

WE FIND LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS.

The trust walk for me symbolized for me what the fellowship of OA is all about. It is about walking through our fears, willingness to go to any lengths and most important, realizing the power of the first word in the first step, WE. I still remember this wonderful experience years later.

Joe A.