CHILD OF ALCOHOLICS
I went to Woodbrooke in May to participate in the short course ‘On Earth as it is in Heaven'. A fascinating and enlightening two days on the life of the Aramaic Jesus.
It was during this time that the continuing integration continued however, not during the course! My tutor asked me if I’d speak to someone during the day who had approached her after morning Meeting for Worship.
We were introduced later that day and arranged to have our lunch together. It was Patsy Wilson I met with. Her opening question was whether or not I’d heard of ACA – which I hadn't. She then explained it was the acronym for the 12 step programme Adult Children of Alcoholics.
My response was “No I haven’t heard of them but I am an adult child of alcoholics”
It was a powerful moment for me as I had never uttered these words before. I had, most of my adult life worked with my own addiction to alcohol, but had never consciously thought of myself, so directly, from this perspective. It was an aspect of myself, my upbringing, my very being that had been shown the light. I realised very quickly that I had actually spoken of this and worked with this during my years of healing the wounds but never as the primary condition. I am not a member of ACA, nor do I feel the need to join but that meeting with Patsy opened up this thing inside of me which we will explore together as she goes through her own healing. No two people have the same experiences but the hurt and the wounds that are affected need love and support to be looked at and healed just the same. And the instant understanding one gets with someone who has a similar experience and knows straight away what you’re talking about - that’s something to be explored and cherished.
So the power has come with the acceptance of another part of myself and how I am and a further acknowledgement of why I am who I am.
A further experience I had never truly honoured. Patsy and I are now in touch regularly and open to whatever may come from this amazing meeting. Once again I’ve only just met her but feel I’ve known her all my life.
Out of this has also come another poem.
It was during this time that the continuing integration continued however, not during the course! My tutor asked me if I’d speak to someone during the day who had approached her after morning Meeting for Worship.
We were introduced later that day and arranged to have our lunch together. It was Patsy Wilson I met with. Her opening question was whether or not I’d heard of ACA – which I hadn't. She then explained it was the acronym for the 12 step programme Adult Children of Alcoholics.
My response was “No I haven’t heard of them but I am an adult child of alcoholics”
It was a powerful moment for me as I had never uttered these words before. I had, most of my adult life worked with my own addiction to alcohol, but had never consciously thought of myself, so directly, from this perspective. It was an aspect of myself, my upbringing, my very being that had been shown the light. I realised very quickly that I had actually spoken of this and worked with this during my years of healing the wounds but never as the primary condition. I am not a member of ACA, nor do I feel the need to join but that meeting with Patsy opened up this thing inside of me which we will explore together as she goes through her own healing. No two people have the same experiences but the hurt and the wounds that are affected need love and support to be looked at and healed just the same. And the instant understanding one gets with someone who has a similar experience and knows straight away what you’re talking about - that’s something to be explored and cherished.
So the power has come with the acceptance of another part of myself and how I am and a further acknowledgement of why I am who I am.
A further experience I had never truly honoured. Patsy and I are now in touch regularly and open to whatever may come from this amazing meeting. Once again I’ve only just met her but feel I’ve known her all my life.
Out of this has also come another poem.
There is no greater gift that can be given or received than a way of opening to a hidden aspect of oneself. It goes beyond self healing and into all you see and do and are and changes the world.