The AA Banquet

The day I arrived for the first time at an AA meeting, everything was arranged to make me feel welcome. In time I came to realize that the members of the group had invested time and energy, and even some money, to assure that I had the most cordial of receptions. One of the members who welcomed me later became my sponsor. He used to say: "Trusted servants are like waiters who set the table so that our fellow members can take their seats and enjoy the AA banquet." In effect, I was served the AA banquet on a silver platter. I was told: "Everything's ready. You don't have to do anything but sit down and listen. Here's your chair, you've already paid for it with your alcoholic suffering--make yourself at home. It's a privilege for us to serve all the new arrivals. If you stay with us, you'll soon have the privilege of serving newcomers too."