“Came to Believe” by Robert M.
“Came to Believe” is a painting familiar to many in Alcoholics Anonymous, depicting AA founders Bill W. and Dr. Bob S. sharing the message of recovery with an AA member in an Akron hospital. The painting was originally published in the AA Grapevine magazine in the 1950’s and has come to be referred to as “The Man in the Bed.”
This scene arguably represents one of the first unstructured AA meetings, as Bill and Bob attempted to convince “AA Number 3” of their solution: “putting the plug in the jug,” which has come to be known as “complete and total abstinence.”
The painting was a gift to Bill W., who said of it, “The whole heart and essence of AA can be seen just by looking at it.”
It is interesting to note that Bill Dotson (“AA Number 3”) was visited on June 26, 1935, and is considered one of the first examples of the AA approach in action.
The Unexpected Nature of AA Meetings
The saying “you never know what you will hear at an AA meeting” is a well-worn recovery cliché. As a newcomer, you are likely to encounter a wide variety of meeting formats and content. This unpredictability has been part of the appeal of AA meetings for over eighty years.
However, the unknown can sometimes be intimidating. Going into a meeting without any idea of what to expect can be off-putting. This is unfortunate, as despite its numerous shortcomings, AA remains the most successful recovery program according to a recent literature review conducted by Stanford University.
Tips and Advice for Attending AA Meetings
Broadly, our best advice for newcomers is to arrive early at the meeting and pay close attention to the proceedings and discussions. Foster an attitude of curiosity and keep an open mind to what you hear. The experiences and opinions shared during these meetings are individualistic and not necessarily the “gospel” of the AA program.
The best practice is to refrain from making any decisions about the fit of the program for you until after you have attended a dozen or so meetings. This will allow you to absorb as much information and context as possible.
Comprehensive Guides for AA Newcomers
Embarking on your AA journey to sobriety can be a significant step, and to assist you, we’ve prepared several comprehensive guides. Just click on any of the four posts below. We trust they will provide valuable support and insights to help you navigate this new chapter.
- Your First AA Meeting
- What Newcomers Should Know About Alcoholics Anonymous
- Experience Versus Opinion
- Success in AA is Achieving Abstinence
We hope you find that information helpful. Being new at AA and recovery isn’t easy, but if you keep an open mind and positive attitude while being armed with some of the information in those posts, we think you’ll have a deeper appreciation for what AA can offer. Good luck!!!
