Winner announced of the writing competition “Recovery Life In Lockdown”

We’re very pleased to announce the winner of the writing competition “Recovery Life In Lockdown” is Gavin from Westcliffe-on-Sea and his winning entry is below. His prize is the book ‘Writing The Big Book’ which will be winging its way to him shortly.
We hope you enjoy and get as much from reading his entry as we did.

Lockdown But not Out

The room was full of fear; it usually is, but this was different. Suddenly, we were all scared. Fear of
the unknown.
What do we do?
Should we hug?
Is there tea?
Touch elbows?
Keep coming back, is that not what they tell us? Not anymore. The doors are closed. Meetings
cancelled. Match abandoned. Oh no, what happens now? Help. Game over?
Technology cursed by so many. However, today a blessing. A tool for recovery! Ninety meetings in
ninety days, without leaving the front room. Thank you, Zoom; my new higher power?
Essex…
London…
Cornwall…
The States…
I am international. The message gets spread.
That chair was from Ireland. Powerful! Please come again. Phone number?
Are we ever alone? We trudge the road to happy destiny, continuing to march forwards… we must.
We can put down the book if we choose. We can forget the triangle if we wish. What unity? What
service? What recovery? No map required to know where this ride will end up. Willing or not? That
is the question. We can recover. Can we?
It is on me. Head’s full of noise. There is nowhere to go. Locked in my room, with no space to
breathe. An hour a day of light exercise, says the Warden, then retreat you must. Essential needs
only, two metres apart. Work, what work? It’s Netflix and chill. Chill till you’re ill. Me and myself and
self-will running riot. I am climbing, please help me, I need to reach out. Yes, my sponsor, please
answer, on the end of the line. Armed with the facts and the facts I do so need. I am open, I am
honest, I am willing.
Clean time Birthday. I have cracked it. I am there. The ego restores, but is that tempting fate. Have
faith, work hard. Live in steps ten, eleven, twelve. The armour we wear leaves the wolves at the
door. My programme of action is needed each day. Through strenuous work and of service to all.
Thy will be done; be brave; grow tall. He is the director and running the show. I hand over to him, I
pause, in all my affairs. My spiritual growth, the feeling within, the power that guides me. Clean
house, trust God. Locked down but not out. The journey unfolds. By spiritual principles, each day till I
am old.

Gavin
Westcliffe-on-Sea