Wow … hard to believe December is almost over, which means that 2011 is almost over. (Especially hard to believe for someone who thinks that 1999 ended just a few days ago, as my kids keep teasing me.)
This past year was full of changes for Al-Anon Family Groups in Jerusalem.
After many years of just one meeting a week, Al-Anon members did the service of starting 2 new meetings. The Tuesday noon meeting eventually closed, after quite a few months, and a lot of good sharing of 12-step experience, strength and hope. The Monday evening group (6:30 PM, Balfour 8) is still going strong, with HP’s help, making use of some interesting ideas, such as writing meditation, share-pairs and our meeting-after-the-meeting restaurant outing the 4th week of every month.
And, as you may know, the former Wednesday evening meeting now meets on Tuesdays (7:45 PM, Bar Kochba 66).
A bit unsettling perhaps. A lot of us Al-Anons are disturbed by change. Often our lives have been, and perhaps still are, full of the tension and drama that tend to go along the family disease of alcoholism. It seems that, as a result, we may either completely shy away from change or frantically pursue it (“If I move/change my job/improve my personality, the problem with the alcoholic will disappear.”) However, as we recover, we learn to find a healthier balance, enjoying moments of calm, and riding out times of instability, remembering: “Change is inevitable; growth is optional.”
Here’s to all the healthy change and growth each of us has experienced in our fellowship over the past year. May 2012 bring serenity, courage and wisdom to us all!
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