Four Months Sober and Ready to Help: A Sponsorship Lesson

In the land of the blind, a one-eyed man is King. This illustrates that sharing experience, not ability, is what helps others.

Why Experience Matters More Than Ability in Recovery

The sponsor talked with his sponsee, who was four months sober. The sponsee felt proud; he met a newcomer at last night’s meeting and took the newcomer’s phone number. The sponsor encouraged this habit, and the sponsee expected praise.

The sponsor said, “That’s good. Did you offer to be his temporary sponsor and go through the Steps with him?”

“No,” he replied, “I don’t have the ability to sponsor someone.”

The sponsor said, “You’re right. You don’t have any abilities in this program.

Your ability doesn’t matter. What matters is your experience. You can share how you worked the Steps and how it changed your life.

“Your experience is what you have to offer.”

Sponsorship Begins by Sharing What Worked for You

“But I am only four months sober,” the sponsee said.

The sponsor replied, ” Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob did the same just days after Dr. Bob sobered up. My sponsor assigned me a sponsee at three months.”

When my sponsor gave me a sponsee, I objected. I said I wasn’t ready and had nothing to offer. He said, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King. I had one eye. It was only three months old, but it was an eye.

What the newcomer needs is simple:

• Someone who has worked the Steps
• Someone willing to share honestly
• Someone who can explain what changed
• Someone who will walk with them, not above them