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 Topic: Jan. 31, 2010 - Feb. 6, 2010: Tradition 1Posted: 31 Jan 2010 at 10:40am |
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First Tradition - Our common welfare should come first; personal
recovery depends upon A.A. unity. Please read the posting guidelines for this meeting. |
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a.messenger349
Location: Eastern Wa. |
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Posted: 31 Jan 2010 at 1:46pm |
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Our Most Pressing Priority
In the initial onset of our affiliation with the fellowship, we often witness the clamor of desire and ambition within the group, coming from both the novice and the old-timer. Which of us has not felt that A.A. could benefit from our input as to re-writes, modifications, updates, and the like? We have discovered that most individuals cannot recover unless there is a fellowship with which they can meet. In the beginning, we need to learn the answer to the prime question: "How do we live and work together as a group?” The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and the one. Our common welfare in our communal effort to get and remain sober through spiritual fitness comes first and is foremost. No sacrifice of ego is too great when its aim is the survival of all. Our greatest contribution is patience, tolerance and humble service towards that end, often quieting our desires and ambitions in favor of lending a tolerant, listening ear in silent counsel. We add to that the exercise of patience, trusting in the group conscience to protect our most pressing priority. |
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"I change me and you get better."
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LeeU
Location: New Hampshire |
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Posted: 01 Feb 2010 at 12:00am |
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"Our common welfare should come first; personal
recovery depends upon A.A. unity." What an amazingly simple, yet amazingly profound concept! It's all about WE. It is not all about ME! And yet, I survive, I thrive, because of this. And without the unity that A.A. has somehow miraculously maintained throughout the years, and throughout the world(!!)how sick, and miserable, and early-dead might we all be? |
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Psalm 91, the ultimate shield for enduring protection. LeeU
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Nancy s
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Posted: 01 Feb 2010 at 3:44am |
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someone once said: i arrive at disneyland and i wanna change all the rides. i had to learn to go with the flow, knowing i could speak up but not take control. it works beautifully
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Easy does it
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TraceR
Location: Nevada |
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Posted: 01 Feb 2010 at 5:09pm |
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Tracey Alcoholic
I can't stay sober without WE!! Great reading on this topic. Thanks for being here. |
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"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light." ~Norman B Rice
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GordonM357
Location: Los Angeles |
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Posted: 01 Feb 2010 at 5:33pm |
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"Only a Bee can understand the problems of another Bee". God gave me that one.
I once wondered what if I needed a meeting and there was none to be found, what if I went to a meeting and no one was there? I tell you I shuttered at the thought. I would be at the mercy of where I was when I arrived at AA. Trying to think my way out of my problem, and listening to noraml people telling me that all I had to do was say no. I know today it is important to check my thinking with people I can trust, people who understand, other Bees. Thats why tradition one is so important to me. I must give my life to AA to make sure it survives, or I and others will die. You know like the Spock quote I just read.(smile) T.G.C.H.H.O. Edited by GordonM357 - 01 Feb 2010 at 5:34pm |
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Gordon M.
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a.messenger349
Location: Eastern Wa. |
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Posted: 02 Feb 2010 at 12:32am |
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Well, maybe the Bee Keeper as well :).
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"I change me and you get better."
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Jan BB
Location: Kent, UK |
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Posted: 02 Feb 2010 at 4:46pm |
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AA unity. Without AA most of us will die. The most important thing in AA, therefore, is not the newcomer; it is the group. The newcomer is important, but not as important as the group. We will ensure the existence of the AA group by putting aside our personal desires and putting the group first in some key areas. It is the other Traditions that define for us what those key areas are and how that unity is to be achieved.
We cannot let one individual bring down the whole group. This is why we must throw the disruptive drunk out of the meeting. The Twelve Traditions Illustrated states in connection with Tradition 1: “Our brother the noisy drunk affords the simplest illustration of this Tradition. If he insists on disrupting the meeting, we ‘invite’ him to leave, and we bring him back when he’s in better shape to hear the message. We are putting our ‘common welfare’ first. But it is his welfare too; if he’s ever going to get sober, the group must go on functioning, ready for him.” |
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Roger L.
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Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 3:31am |
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Greetings folks Roger an alcoholic,
I’ve been to many meetings, many conferences and many assemblies. It is not uncommon to observe EGOs everywhere and that’s OK, that’s AA. Tradition one speaks to unity. I think of the dysfunctional family system I’ve come from and observe a multitude of similarities in the AA community. There was lots of hostage dynamics in my family and very little meaningful unity. “Characteristics of the so-called typical alcoholic is a narcissistic egocentric core, dominated by feelings of omnipotence, intent on maintaining at all costs its inner integrity……Inwardly the alcoholic brooks no control from man or God. He, the alcoholic, is and must be the master of his destiny. He will fight to the end to preserve that position”. AA Comes of Age P.3111 Those are the EGO traits that have to surrender........... I have often come from weekend assemblies with alcoholics experiencing a profound sense of sadness as a result of observing a driving force that seems to bring the Hyde forward at times when the host least expects it. That is usually followed by a low, depressed and embarrassed disposition – looks like the emotional hangovers I’ve experienced often enough. At such times, when I fear AA may come apart, I think of the enormous impact the Titanic disaster has had on my life albeit I knew no one directly affected. When I watched the film- I knew why that disaster had such an impact on me; it was because it is a perfect parallel to my life; Driven by EGO, competition, status, prestige I went racing through life defying all odds that my boat was unsinkable until poof, there was the iceberg. Too smug to have even taken adequate safety measures, a multitude perished without ever seeing possible rescue. Others made it into the icy waters and tried desperately to make it to the life boats (AA). Some got in and sat down quietly grateful. Others sat on the edge and eventually fell back into the icy waters. Some even just walked straight up the edge of the boat to take charge. That’s AA. How do I take the oath of responsibility in AA in a manner to enhance unity? I go back to where I would be if I had not been given a place in the life boat. I do my best not to criticize, judge, condemn and I take responsibility to ensure disruptive, destructive and demeaning attitudes and behaviors are kept in check, not only newcomers, to enhance the over all safety of everyone in the life boat. It always starts by being the changes I want to see in AA. Edited by Roger L. - 03 Feb 2010 at 3:33am |
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Roger
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tinas
Location: out west |
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Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 10:11pm |
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I have been to only a couple of meetings. Really liked the women's meeting that is on monday morning. was really looking forward to going again this last monday but pnumonia has got me down.
I felt so welcome and such a warmth at that meeting so hope to go again soon. |
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Jan. 31, 2010 - Feb. 6, 2010: Tradition 1
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