Only through Anonymity
Anonymity taught me that in the safety of the Fellowship, I could shed personas, embrace authenticity, and find freedom from the bondage of self.
Readings
Thirty Days of Abstinence!
Before, I was ready to explode at any time, but now it seems that without excess food and junk food, space has opened for me to think calmly and either solve things with more serenity or . . . really deliver it to a Higher Power. I’ve reached my twenty-ninth day of abstinence. Tomorrow will … Continued
A Written Fellowship
“Lifeline has truly been a written fellowship, connecting members around the world with shared experience, strength, and hope.”
The Spirit of Tradition Eleven
Understanding Tradition Eleven taught me that true attraction lies not in promotion but in the quiet authenticity of recovery, humility, and service.
It Can Happen to Anyone
“Melissa shares how the challenges of loss, grief, and personal struggle tested her long-term recovery, ultimately deepening her reliance on OA, her Higher Power, and the support of others.”
Carried Clearly
At an OA retreat, Heather responded to the question “How do you carry the message in meetings, as sponsors, with fellows, and in your everyday life?” We are happy to publish her response in Lifeline.
Reach Out: Support Within
An anonymous OA member writes in with simple ideas for Twelfth Step Within Day on December 12. “What support and encouragement can you offer a member who is struggling in program?”
An Atheist’s Prayer
“An Atheist’s Prayer calls for strength in letting go of self-will, surrendering to the guidance of the program, and cultivating gratitude, growth, and serenity.”
Self-Amends Prayer
When she was working Step Nine, Keri’s sponsor suggested she make amends to herself. Keri did so by writing a prayer that “lists positive characteristics that oppose my character defects . . . . By saying this prayer daily and out loud to my Higher Power, I am acting as if . . .”
Spiritual Rewrite
“I was complaining to my sponsor about the religious language of the Eleventh Step Prayer,” says one OA member. “She suggested I rewrite it in language that is meaningful to me.” Read the rewrite in this story.