The last few meetings, at the group I go to, brought up a lot of thoughts today. I sat there and listened, as they talked about the primary purpose of us sober alcoholics and the Fifth Tradition. We were focused on the basics of this program.
I loved what I heard. One young woman said that we were there to carry the AA message to the alcoholic, who still suffers. She said we’re not there to practice therapy on the members at the meetings. She said we need to emphasize practicing these Steps and arriving at the spiritual awakening, which is the solution to our alcoholism.
Had to laugh afterward, when another man came up to me and also emphasized the Steps and also said we’re not there to practice therapy. He said we don’t know anything about whatever others problems are. That he said was for counselors, doctors, and others. In fact another man in the room today asked why anyone would bring up relationship problems, like marriage, divorce, or any similar complaints. He said that the people, who had the worst relationship problems were us alcoholics. Why would anyone expect us to have the solutions?
Everyone emphasized the importance of discussing and working the Twelve Steps, where we find so many solutions to our living problems. Almost everyone told how these Steps had changed their lives for the better and saved them from having to go back out and drink. They almost all said that practicing these Steps was a lifetime proposition. Part of our spiritual life in sobriety.
And, of course, the paradox of giving what we have away in order to keep it, came up in our primary purpose, and how it supposed to work in that Fifth Tradition, where it talks about the primary purpose of the group. Quite a few talked about how we, as individuals in the group, have an opportunity to help our fellow alcoholics new and old, who are suffering. In fact one old timer spoke up and mentioned the suffering he was going through at the moment and how he was being helped by the group at the meeting today, talking about this. The spiritual solution.
Anyway, just another opportunity for me to contemplate the importance of the basics of this program. Almost everyone talked about their gratitude for what this program has done for them and what the meeting was giving them today. Me too.