Daily
Reflections reading January 31st
Our Common Welfare Comes First
The
unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished quality our Society has. .
. . We stay whole, or A.A. dies. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 129
Our
Traditions are key elements in the ego deflation process necessary to achieve
and maintain sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. The First Tradition reminds me
not to take credit, or authority, for my recovery. Placing our common welfare
first reminds me not to become a healer in this program; I am still one of the
patients. Self-effacing elders built the ward. Without it, I doubt I would be
alive. Without the group, few alcoholics would recover. The active role in
renewed surrender of will enables me to step aside from the need to dominate,
the desire for recognition, both of which played so great a part in my active
alcoholism. Deferring my personal desires for the greater good of group growth
contributes toward A.A. unity that is central to all recovery. It helps me to
remember that the whole is greater than the sum of all its parts.
© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
My
thoughts on January 31st Reading
Our Common Welfare Comes First, this is
our first tradition "Anonymity is
the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place
principles before personalities." thank God our founders made this clear
it is the principles we live by
Unity begins within us and our Higher
Power, when one is following the guidance and will of a Higher Power balance is
achieved, then the ability to participate in a healthy life style is greatly
improved unity is best served by the individual's unity with a Higher Power,
all for one and one for all the greatest good for the greatest number is the
goal, this applies in any group.
The unity of the group has to come first,
other wise we find ourselves pulling in different directions, working together
depends upon the cooperation of the group, listening to the ideas feelings and
opinions of each other
With an open mind, being willing to
accept what the majority wants, not that our way be the way in a group, each
member has the responsibility to be open and honest in the expressing of their
ideas and feelings, this also means that all members of the group be willing to
share
In the day to day duties and
responsibilities of the group, only then will the unity prevail, the strength
of the group comes from recognition and understanding of our mutual needs and
when we discuss them openly, we help each other
Sometimes one has to agree with what is
best for the group as a whole, a free and tolerant exchange of views is
something that requires a persistent practice of the 12 traditions in all our
affairs, unity keeps the groups together, dissension or controversy hurts the
unity
Thus hurts the group as a whole, quantity
of program is not as important as quality of program no one is an all wise
authority on everything, all have a purpose, a part to play in the group as a
whole, we have groups in the first place because we believe WE IS BETTER THAN
ME
This denotes that we are no longer alone
in our search for sobriety, even though we are together we must retain our
individuality, each person enhances the fellowship, each can stand alone and be
independent of the other, but we prefer to stand together as a unit
We believe that two are better than one,
for a group to work each has to pull their own load in order to maintain any
kind of unity, we are joined by a mutual desire to stay sober and help others
achieve sobriety, the life of the fellowship will depend upon the unity within
the fellowship
Together
we stand - divided we fall. We must maintain unity to survive.
Please feel free to mail
suggestions or comments
