Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10

We are really up the creek when we land in our first AA meeting or treatment facility. It’s hard to be grateful that these places broke our fall rather than jail or death.

But these are four pretty common places to find us, and each are marked, at least initially, by loneliness.

Looking only at the institutions of the world rather than the permanence of death, it’s no wonder we are drawn to the fellowship of our drinking and using after the shock of sobering up is endured.

We need relationship. We need others. We dislike discomfort. We can’t imagine how the drab, clear-eyed companions we now find ourselves with could ever be fun, let alone friends.

We’ve grown accustomed to chaos rather than friendliness. It is uncomfortable to sit still.

But one thing remains—we recognize the need for fellows on this journey. We needed them before and we need them now.

We will need help, and we will need to provide it. The sooner we let down our guard and begin to seek the partnership of others, the sooner we can make headway.

If we are alone when temptation comes, it is near impossible to resist the first drink.

God, go before me and show me who to trust, who to help.