This isn't from the book (obviously) it is my opinion: I stray away from sponsorship of non-alcoholics because I see it as a danger to other real alcoholics in the rooms. As AA's we often are looking for the easier softer path - the one with the least amount of effort for us. That has been true for me and sponsees I have had. In the beginning of my sobriety it was seldom out of virtue that I took the step or kept my AA commitments out of sheer virtue or even because of a desire to feel good. It really boiled down to getting so low that the steps, the AA commitments and the seemingly rediculous directions real (and truly free & happy) AA's gave me actually became easier than what I was doing...
And what is my exp with non-aa's in AA? for me it was years off and on of me believing there was an easier softer way than what the book described - because I had a knack for searching out and befriending those who could function soberly on a "1,2,3" program. And what would happen? I would be miserable. I would occasionally drink. And be baffled! I did what they did! I learned this lesson by having a non-AA as a sponsor 13 years ago. I kept doing things as she directed, and I kept relapsing after a year. A few years into her sponsoring me she decided to drink again. And she, we and God all learned that she was a normy. No wonder she was surving on what many of us who knew her could not!
Over the years I have had a handful of ppl walk into the rooms and sk me to sponsor them and once we sat down to look at step one came to believe they had other things going on besides alcoholism. My husbands best friend is one of those men. So he did not join AA after we spoke. He actually joined a fitness group! And has in the last year seemed to make a great turn-around. So lastly.. this, I guess, is a personal choice for an AA to make. I personally think, man i sure am glad that my husbands friend doesnt have one year in AA and is in the rooms showing people how meetings and a gym membership works if you work it!
