THE AGE OF MIRACLES

​"The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that." p. 153 BB

​This January OA celebrated its 63rd Birthday. This year's theme was Age of Miracles, and what a miracle it was, too finally return to the in-person party.
 
I had never attended the OA birthday party and had not attended an in-person event since Region One convention prior to the pandemic. So, I figured this would be the perfect time to cross it off my bucket list.
 
It’s been a difficult few years. However, I have witnessed many miracles, big and small, this past three years. None have been as meaningful as the power of fellowship and the gift of sharing recovery.
 
 I have attended meetings all over the world, something I never thought possible. During the difficult times, the lonely times and the doubting times I have had fellows’ day and night in a zoom meeting somewhere to help me get through one more day at a time. All of these were Miracles of fellowship and recovery.
 
It was more than enough to get me through and kept my cup full…so I thought. Sitting on the plane returning to Vancouver Canada after the convention I realized that my cup had been almost, but not quite full, there was room for more and I hadn’t even realized it!
 
At the convention the rooms, halls, restaurants, nooks, crannies and elevators were filled with friends and fellows from around the world. Over 800 people registered for the OA birthday party and everywhere you went there was someone to talk, laugh, and cry with. The workshops were standing room only, and in every workshop I attended, I witnessed the unison of head nods, the hearts of so many who understood...simply understood.  
 
Many of us had never met before…but were not strangers we were fellows. At the closing we made the biggest circle I had ever seen, put our hand in each other’s and prayed the OA promise together.
 
You could feel the LOVE in the room and as you looked around you knew that every single person in that massive banquet room would be there for you if you needed.
 
That willingness to hold on to each other and reach out our hand to help is what makes this program of recovery a Miracle. But to actually feel that hand in mine…that was the missing piece I needed to fill the rest of my cup. As I looked out the window I took a moment to reflect on just how lucky I was, to play a small part in bringing this kind of Miracle to Region One, with our first in person convention this coming year.
 
I can’t wait to stand beside you, reach out my hand and put it in yours finding love and understanding beyond my wildest dreams. See you in October 2023!!!!!
 
“Among them you will make lifelong friends. You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties, for you will escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey.”  p.152-153 BB
 
Teri O.