It seems that I never cease to feel the effects of AA's three legacies in my life on a daily basis. I hope and pray that I never do.
I have been involved in service work of different sorts for the past decade plus and it has enriched my life in ways I could never put into words. I have learned from the many experiences I've had that I can disagree with others and still love them and feel good about myself; I don't need to take it personally when people feel differently about a topic than I do. I never need to feel alone because I am united within a fellowship of people who struggle as I do with not only their disease, but their humanity as well. It keeps the playing level and I need not regard myself as either better or worse than other member. This attitude spills over into my "everyday life." This unity is vital to the continued existence of the fellowship and, therefore, my very life.
A key way to ensure the existence of the fellowship through a never ending sense of unity to remain focused on our singleness of purpose. We have learned through our history that we can not be all things to all people. When we stray from our task of recovery from alcoholism and embrace other maladies of the human condition, we become fragmented. The very soul of unity comes under attack; even though our intentions may be good the result is far from that.
On the topic of service I can only say that my life is far richer for it. There is an old adage in AA that you have to give it away to keep it. I have seen the truth of that statement time and time again. Service begins and ends at the group level. Making coffee, setting up and removing chairs, and all the assorted group commitments are vital to the operation of the group. From there, the many commitments on the district and area levels that are available serve to further ensure the vitality of the groups which they serve. It springs from and returns to the group.
Without recovery we offer no hope or experience of any value to the still sick and suffering alcoholic. We cannot give away what we do not have. We maintain our recovery by being united with each other in love and service.
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