Every time I go to the AA Traditions I am struck, when I read, study, or think about what this is all about. And that’s when I arrive at the Fifth Tradition. It tells me exactly why we’re here. We;re here to carry the AA message to the alcoholic, who still suffers. We’re not here to talk about our personal problems, unless they relate directly to our suffering alcoholism.
And, when I read the long form of this Tradition, it simply states that the group ought to be a spiritual entity, whose primary purpose is to carry the message to the alcoholic, who still suffers. I often think that’s not just a new person. It could be an old timer, who has run into a wall within himself, or herself, which may be setting them for what’s in the BB. That there may come a time in the life of the alcoholic, when they may have no mental defense against that first drink, and there’s no help, except spiritual. And that’s where the group comes in.
That’s why, when I came in back then, the group always talked about these Steps and the program of AA, and alcoholism. It’s what began to wake me up to what was wrong with me. I know it did that to everyone in the meetings we had. And, I heard from some of these, who had been around for quite a while, that they heard what they needed, which saved them. It made them change their minds and to put this program into action in their lives. And then those newcomers, who heard what they needed and became willing to continue to stay sober.
But this is what I know that we should be doing and nothing else. I won’t go into details of what I often see happening in meetings…
Anyway I know we need to help alcoholics like ourselves in meetings. A reminder to me that I am here to stay sober a day at a time. And to remember how grateful I am for what has been given to me, since I came into this program. Especially that statement in the Ninth Step in the BB, that the spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. I need to express my gratitude and say “Thanks”.