[This is an encore of Episode 84 originally released June 29, 2022]
Alcoholism nearly ended Justin’s marriage and his career as an airline pilot. Then he found sobriety and recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. Raised in a family rife with alcoholics, Justin’s role model was a father who suffered with alcoholism and co-occurring mental health issues, and ultimately committed suicide. Though warned by his mother about the family proclivity for alcoholism, Justin continued to ramp up his drinking throughout high school and college. By the time his career as an airline pilot took off, so did his drinking. To quell any concerns from fellow pilots and crews that he might be drinking too much, Justin became a solitary drinker. He never drank on the job, but his after-hours and days off were spent drinking in hotel rooms and at home. Still, he functioned well-enough to start a family and keep his job amidst umpteen promises that he would cut back and control his drinking. But those promises turned hollow as each attempt to stop inevitably ended with still more drinking. When Justin first found AA, he made a half-hearted attempt to get sober. But four months in and none of the work done, Justin figured he’d gotten all he could from AA. So naturally, he decided he could drink like a normal man. With that first drink, his disease re-surfaced with vengeance and his life went into a tailspin. Justin hit his bottom when his wife expelled him from their home. Fortunately, he turned to his pilot’s union and employer for help. He was immediately whisked away to an inpatient rehab facility followed by an intensive outpatient treatment and aftercare program. Though his medical certification was revoked and he could no longer fly, Justin persevered in treatment. He rejoined AA and began to seriously work the Program. His new commitment to AA was replete with sponsor, step-work, meetings, book study, prayer, and service. As sober days passed, his accountability to his wife, his Program, his employer and the FAA were re-established while he concurrently fulfilled the rigorous requirements to re-instate his certification to fly.
Two years later, Justin has become firmly entrenched in AA and is a regular member of several meetings I attend. He does Zoom meetings and live meetings wherever he travels. He has a sponsor to whom he remains close, and sponsors other men to keep himself sober. The gifts that Justin has realized from the Program include getting his marriage back intact and being reinstated to his job as a trusted pilot for a major airline. Justin’s enthusiasm for AA and his infectious smile naturally draw newcomers and old-timers into his life. His story is timeless and continues to generate hope, especially for those in his profession, who reach out for his help. His two years of experience shared within the fellowship are invaluable to those who want it.
It’s with real gratitude that I offer you this exceptional episode of AA Recovery Interviews. So please enjoy the next hour and ten minutes with my fine friend and AA brother, Justin M.
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, Apple Books, or Amazon.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first pub...