Member: Bonnie Z.
Location: PA, USA
Date: 2/27/00
Time: 9:23:03 PM

Comments

Hi, my name is Bonnie Z., and I am an alcoholic. I love the Traditions, they have worked since 1935, and we need to uphold them to continue.

As far as Tradition Two, I have to ask myself, is what I am doing in relation to the group for the GROUP's well-being, and towards the continuation of AA as a whole? Am I giving the group what it wants, or am I being self-centered and just closed-minded? I have been entrusted to put out our local Intergroup newsletter every month, but it is not what Bonnie wants, but what is for the good of all, with input from all. I cannot say, "This is what I'm doing, don't bother me." I have to say, "This is what I would like to put in, how do you feel about it, please contribute with me." I pray that my Higher Power guides me, and I am living up to the trust that the group, and especially Him, place in me.

I must say thank you to all of you, for you encourage me. i love being a part of AA, and I try to give back what was given to me so we can continue as a fellowship, to be there for the next suffering alcoholic that walks through those doors.


Member: x-nuclearfission
Location: Florida
Date: 2/27/00
Time: 10:24:06 PM

Comments

I believe that the higher power is God. He reaches out his hand for our sakes. At some AA meetings it has been said, "well I belived in God but he did not help with my alcohol and AA did." But in fact God is helping you through AA. He brought you to AA and told you this is where you get help. Its a wonder that all AA meetings I goto are in churches. For those of us who are apprehensive about God Just ask yourself what I do. What evil could possibly come from it. If you havent had a drink today give yourself a hand(:->)


Member: Edie R.
Location: Lancaster,S.C.
Date: 2/28/00
Time: 3:06:32 AM

Comments

Im Edie and I'm an alcoholic I believe this tradition keeps humilty among our groups. That's all folks. Stay Sober


Member: Lois C.
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Date: 2/28/00
Time: 3:38:28 PM

Comments

Hello to all! I'm Lois and I'm an alcoholic.

Did you ever notice that the "Long Form" of Tradition Two is shorter than the "Short Form"?

"Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern." is added to the long form.

We aren't supposed to have bosses in AA but we are supposed to have leaders. The "elder statesman" and "bleading deacon" are introduced in the Second Tradition in our "12&12." Many AA groups have a member like the founder of the Middleton USA group mentioned in the 12&12. I've met some myself and may have -- at one time or another -- tried to run it. I try to be an elder statesman but sometimes I slip into my bleeding deacon mode.

Guess I'd better keep coming back. I'm not cured yet.

As long as we rely on a loving God as our ultimate authority instead of some human power, we'll be here for the drunks to come.


Member: ChuckM
Location: Alberta
Date: 2/29/00
Time: 1:40:49 AM

Comments

I am chuck, an alcoholic. By following the program in the Big Book I have recovered from a seemingly hopeless condition of mind and body.

Many years ago I read an article in the Grapevine on Group Concience that I agreed with.The article suggested that a group concience should meet the following criteria; 1. The question should be clearly defined, 2. Every member of the group should be notified, 3. Enough time for the members to check, meditate or pray before the meeting, 4. The vote should be substantialy in favour, and the minority must be given a second chance to state their case [ the AA way ].

If we are asking God to guide us it is not to be taken lightly.

The ordinary business of the group can be voted on as it comes up.

I try to be an elder statement rather than a bleeding deacon but it is hard when you don't agree with me.

Peace and Serenity to all


Member: Mary K
Location: Boston
Date: 2/29/00
Time: 4:24:56 PM

Comments

Hi ! Mary, alcoholic.

This tradition keeps my ego in check. I am an truly an ego-maniac with an inferiority complex!!!

Love to all - Mary


Member: Mary K
Location: Boston
Date: 2/29/00
Time: 4:25:11 PM

Comments

Hi ! Mary, alcoholic.

This tradition keeps my ego in check. I am an truly an ego-maniac with an inferiority complex!!!

Love to all - Mary


Member: Jane \\v
Location: OH
Date: 2/29/00
Time: 5:32:15 PM

Comments

Hi all! I'm an alcoholic! God is my only reason for even trying to stay sober. I owe it all to Him! Jane V


Member: Paul B
Location: Kirkland
Date: 3/1/00
Time: 12:41:03 AM

Comments

My home group is a very spiritual group and God expresses himself through the group. We have had some heavy issues recently but taking them one at a time, taking time to discuss them, and praying over the issues, the group has grown stronger and become very unified. As a result of the process, the group has decided to do a group inventory. Since it's founding in 1984, this has not been done (to anyone's knowledge).

Our trusted servants are just that. Each and every one does what they feel is the best for the group and the GSR takes it to the district. The DCM is a home group member and has been an inspiration to new trusted servants, assisting the others in teaching the tradtion.

It has been a privledge to serve and has kept me sober.

In God's love and service.


Member: Paul Q
Location: Toronto
Date: 3/1/00
Time: 7:51:29 AM

Comments

I'am beyond human aid!

GOD is the boss .....watch for people that go on about how long they have been in AA. They usually become the ultimate authority...

GOD RUNS THE SHOW BABY! HE GOVERNS AND WE FOLLOW..........

IF THERE IS TWO GODS ONE IS GOING TO GET DRUNK (an old saying but it works for me)


Member: tina s.
Location: california
Date: 3/1/00
Time: 12:23:23 PM

Comments

hi! my name is tina and i am an alcoholic. i have been sober since 3/92, and had two years sober prior to a short relapse. when i first got sober, there was alot of talk of God and spirituality. at that time, God was the center of the meetings. now, in my home town, people rarely speak of God and running the show in and out of meetings. it's sad. i sometimes wonder how these people stay sober, because i know that God keeps me sober. i'm seriously considering starting up a new AA meeting that is a spiritual meeting, and the people are not afraid of saying "God."

it was nice talking to all of you. have a great day.


Member: Bob H.
Location: Triangle Club ,South  Bend Indiana
Date: 3/1/00
Time: 7:15:24 PM

Comments

Hi everyone my name is Bob and I"m an alcoholic;sober today trrough the grace of God and the program of AA with the 12 steps,12 traditions and a lot of meetings. Thangk God for this tradition it reminds me who is in charge . Tina I think that is a real good idea ! try and keep that thought and put it into action action !thanks for letting me share.


Member: Michael B.
Location: AZ
Date: 3/1/00
Time: 9:47:38 PM

Comments

Hi! My name is Michael, and I am a recovering alcoholic and addict, sober today only by the grace of God and the Fellowship. Welocme to any newcomers! And thank everyone for sharing!

Chuck, thanks for sharing that excerpt from the Grapevine about the group conscience--it's a good reminder that we need to take this Tradition seriously. I've heard AA's erroneously equate the group conscience with God's will, but this is only possible if the group takes such things as the Grapevine suggestions and the other Traditions to heart. We know from AA literature, for example, that the group conscience was responsible for excluding all kinds of alcoholics from attending AA meetings, something especially true in the early days of AA.

Ironically, I was involved in a headstrong service committee once, where the Chairperson decided to rely on the group conscience, even if it meant ignoring other Traditions, GSO and Intergroup guidelines. Because the group conscience here was not responding to the Traditions, Concepts, GSO and local guidelines, and what a few of us who had been around for a while were saying, this particular group conscience was responsible for approving a novel idea or two in exchange for repeating past mistakes and violating other Traditions and well-established (and beneficial) GSO and local guidelines. Most importantly, it ended up hindering our overall effectiveness in carrying the message.

Watch out for a small group of outspoken people coming in and dominating a committee that has just rotated and is full of new faces!


Member: stan t
Location: alaska
Date: 3/1/00
Time: 10:34:42 PM

Comments

hi i'm stan, i'ma alcoholic, yes he is a loving god, feeling at the end of my rope i cry out to my loving god help i want,need,have to quit and stay sober, my loving god gives me the help i need when and as i need it, at the right time too, today a friend gave me this addy, what a awsome god, just as i needed.


Member: Lynn S
Location: OR
Date: 3/2/00
Time: 9:55:22 AM

Comments

Hello, I'm Lynn and alcoholic. I had trouble with this one. How could God be loving after all I had been through in my life? - and when reaching out to understand the perfect universe and unperfect world I struggled until one day someone said, "You need to forgive God". When I was able to begin to understand what that meant, then I began to understand how loving God is and began to understand that the buck stops here with me-and I have the option of being loving or hateful-helpful or disruptive and that I could grow up as a person and take my rightful place. Life didn't necessarily get easier but I had more peace and my "conscious contact with God as I understood him" improved.


Member: Sue J
Location: calif
Date: 3/2/00
Time: 10:21:57 PM

Comments

Hello, Sue alcoholic How wise this tradition is. Preventing strife and egotistical maniacs from taking over. Not one PERSONS will but our higher powers guidance is where we take our que from.


Member: Larry M.
Location: Virginia Beach
Date: 3/4/00
Time: 12:25:33 AM

Comments

Can you imagine if we had leaders who governed? ROFLMAO! How many of us alkies would put up with THAT? I figure AA would last for a week, maybe two. We'd have leaders with no one to follow them.


Member: LINDA N
Location: VANCOUVER, BC
Date: 3/4/00
Time: 2:48:55 AM

Comments

HI MY NAME IS LINDA, I AM A ALCOHOLIC. I CAN RELATE TO WHAT LYNN SAID. HOW CAN THERE BE A LOVING GOD AFTER ALL I HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE. MY FIRST HUSBAND BROKE MY NECK FIFTEEN YEARS AGO AND LEFT ME A QUADRAPLEGIC. I HAVE BEEN SOBER COMING UP TO 5 YEARS. I BELIEVE IN A LOVING GOD TODAY, BUT I STILL HAVE A HARD TIME PRAYING SOMETIMES. I AGREE WITH LYNN I NEED TO FORGIVE GOD FOR WHAT HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE TO BE LOVED RATHER BE HATEFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO MANY MEETINGS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND SO GLAD I FOUND THIS ONLINE MEETING. I KNOW IF IT WASN'T FOR AA AND MEETINGS I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY. WHEN I ISOLATE AND DON'T GO TO MEETINGS I GET IRRITATABLE AND DISCONTENT. I BELIEVE GOD DOES EXPRESS HIMSELF THROUGH THE GROUP. I BELIEVE THAT SERVICE WORK IS IMPORTANT. IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF BELONGING. THANK YOU FOR MY SOBRIETY.

ANOTHER 24 GOD BLESS LINDA VANCOUVER,BC


Member: Roy S
Location:
Date: 3/4/00
Time: 2:20:22 PM

Comments

I believe this tradition is right on target. I feel it is important to have "elder statesmen" to help others, but they do not govern. The spirit and goals of AA need to be decided by all of its members, not just a few. The idea that God needs to be the one and only leader with some trusted servants to help is indeed a good one. Thanks for letting me share.


Member: Catherine W
Location: Rainy Ramona, CA
Date: 3/5/00
Time: 12:03:54 PM

Comments

Catherine here, Alcoholic, and grateful to be sober another day~

As has been stated, I can only vaguely imagine what chaos and insanity would take over without this tradition! Alcoholics suffer from a disease of the body, mind and spirit, self-centered to the extreme...OMG! what a mess that would be! There would be no program, thank God for the guidence and wisdom that was afforded our founders!

Thank you for letting me share.


Member: joe L.
Location:
Date: 3/5/00
Time: 2:54:07 PM

Comments

Hi there, Joe L. recoverying alkie and my life is unmanageable whether drunk or sober.

Tradition Two, this was the bedrock for any (if not all) spiritual growth attained within sobreity.

The concept of a Loving Higher Power is hard to grapple with, if you are continually resentful of Him.

Therefore for me, as Lynn has shared, I needed to forgive God and from that I was able to firstly see my own deluded sense of arrogance and learn a most valuable lesson in humility. Whenever I bring the Power into the situation I no longer am the omega and the alpha but someone trying to find and walk in their own feet of clay.

Continually each day I take my affairs back into my own supreme being of self, but through the grace of God I once again hand it over again.

How can we truly be of help within our groups and our families if our only frame of reference is what we think is best?

Anyways, first time here on the net, thanks for letting me share. Be good to one another.