Today I went to the book of Bill’s Grapevine writings called The Language of the Heart, because yesterday I was thinking of the group in the meeting carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. So I went to his thoughts on the Fifth Tradition, which states that “Each group has but one primary purpose–to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers”. Actually the long form is really short. It states that “Each Alcoholic Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose–that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers”.
Bill starts out by saying that it’s better for us to do one thing well than many things badly. He points out that the result for the alcoholic, who fails to recover is death. And that mainly it’s alcoholics who are saving other alcoholics. It was true back then and it’s still true. I have done this and been witness to this over the years in here. There were no rehabs when I came in, and even those have to depend on the sober alcoholic and meetings of AA. I’ve watched so many come out of these rehabs and largely not stay in meetings and do exactly what he said. Drink again and die.
What he points out is that the program we got sober in owes the suffering alcoholic a chance to get sober and survive. That’s when he talks about what groups and members must do. Stick to the primary purpose and not dilute it with other things. If we do he said we will fold up and not be able to do what we need to. To help the alcoholic. That’s why the only thing AA is about is alcoholism and recovery.
The founders who studied what this program needed knew about the group in the 1860s. Around one hundred and sixty thousand alcoholics recovering in a group called the Washingtonians, which was successful until it got involved in other things. It lacked traditions and unity and it dissolved and the alcoholics were lost.
So I know today that my main purpose is to try to carry the message of AA to the alcoholic who comes in and wants to get sober. To give away what was given to me so freely by those old timers in here. To not only carry the message but to serve as an example of how this program works. That’s exactly what I was given and it still works.
I go back to the long form, which talks about the group as being on the whole a spiritual being, like its members. To carry the message that by working this program we will become open to finding a spiritual awakening. That along the way we will be able to pick a spiritual way of life which makes sense to us each individually and find ourselves restored to sanity. That is, from my own experience, that, as far as alcohol is concerned, I will be put in position of neutrality. I won’t be tempted or drawn to it, as long as I maintain and continue to do what I learned in here.
Anyway I was once again thinking about my sobriety and this came to mind. Compassion. Reaching out to another alcoholic and trying to help. Part of my primary purpose or what it is that helps me to remain sober. To practice these spiritual principles in all of my affairs. Perfectly? Hmm. I try. But I sure need the help of my Higher Power and others like myself.
And I do get what I need and am sober because of what I am given. Grateful to my Higher Power and the others like myself, who extend their help.