AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrecovery

~ Page 41 ~

Membership Rules?

Around 1943 or 1944, the Central Office asked the groups to list their membership rules and send them in. After they arrived we set them all down. A little reflection upon these many rules brought us to an astonishing conclusion.

If all of these edicts had been in force everywhere at once it would have been practically impossible for any alcoholic to have ever joined A.A. About nine-tenth of our oldest and best members could never have got by!

<< << << >> >> >>

At last experience taught us that to make away any alcoholic’s full chance for sobriety in A.A. was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery. Who dared to be judge, jury, and executioner of his own sick brother?

~ 1. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1946 ~
~ 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 141 ~

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Emmet Fox Speaks #essentialsofrec #Emmet #Fox #Rules

Mind Your Own Business  

One of the first rules on the spiritual path is that you must attend strictly to your own business and not interfere with that of others. Your neighbor's life is sacred and you have no right to try to manage it for him. Let him alone. God has given him free will and self-determination, so why should you interfere? Many well meaning people are constantly "butting in"" to their neighbors' lives without invitation. They pretend to themselves that their only desire is to help, but this is self-deception. It is really a desire to interfere. Interference always does more harm than good. Actually those who mind other people's business always neglect their own. The man who wants to put your house in order has always made a failure of his own life. M.Y.O.B. Of course, this does not mean that you are not to help people whenever you can; in fact, you should make it a rule to try to do at least one kind act every day; but you must do it without interfering or encroaching.When in doubt, claim Divine Guidance. It is always right to give your neighbor the right thought. Under any circumstances it can only do good to "Golden Key" him when you think of him. Don't fuss - God is running the universe.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

EASY DOES IT #essentialsofrec #Humor Rule62

 HUMOR

Rule 62: Don’t take yourself too seriously.

~ Anonymous ~

Once we get the God problem figured out, it’s easier to lighten up on ourselves. When we play God, we’re serious about ourselves because, after all, we’re God and God is serious. Besides carrying the world around on our backs is heavy stuff, and it’s hard to laugh when we’re so weighted down.

Once we work our Steps, we see things from a clearer point of view. We get a sense of humor back. The slogan “Easy Does It” speaks to us.

We watch the old-timers and how they handle situations. There is usually little fuss or hassle. They don’t frown or look worried. Those who have been on the Program for a long time know that things come and go; God’s will will be done. Life has a lot more to do with acceptance than with being serious.

Let me learn to accept that God’s in charge. Then I can stop taking myself so seriously.

©1990 by Anonymous. All rights reserved. Published by Hazelden.

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

AS BILL SEES IT #essentialsofrec #BillW #Membership #AA

 Page 41

Membership Rules?

Around 1943 or 1944, the Central Office asked the groups to list their membership rules and send them in. After they arrived we set them all down. A little reflection upon these many rules brought us to an astonishing conclusion.

If all of these edicts had been in force everywhere at once it would have been practically impossible for any alcoholic to have ever joined A.A. About nine-tenth of our oldest and best members could never have got by!

<< << << >> >> >>

At last experience taught us that to make away any alcoholic’s full chance for sobriety in A.A. was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery. Who dared to be judge, jury, and executioner of his own sick brother?

~ 1. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1946
~ 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 141

© 1967 by Alcoholics Anonymous ® World Services, Inc

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Today’s Gift #essentialsofrec

One law for lion and ox is oppression.

—William Blake

What would the forest be like if deer, squirrel, and owl alike were required to sleep only at noon? Or the sky, if all birds were forced by law to fly in lines? Or the sea, if all fish had to stay forever in schools? We all know a lion and an ox, and we’ve all acted like a chicken, jackass, goat, or fox. Now and then we’re slow or fast, bright or dull, willing or not.

So when others go the way we know we must go, we will follow the same law. But we don’t have to be as others are, just to avoid being thought “strange.” How truly strange life would be if everyone were the same. We have our own way, our own good time, and own free laws to discover and obey.

Will I need to obey someone else’s rules if I govern myself well? 

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

As Bill Sees It #essentialsofrecovery

Membership Rules?, p. 41

Around 1943 or 1944, the Central Office asked the groups to list their membership rules and send them in. After they arrived we set them all down. A little reflection upon these many rules brought us to an astonishing conclusion.

If all of these edicts had been in force everywhere at once it would have been practically impossible for any alcoholic to have ever joined A.A. About nine-tenths of our oldest and best members could have never gotten by!

*************************************

At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic’s full chance for sobriety in A.A. was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery. Who dared to be judge, jury, and executioner of his own sick brother?

1. Grapevine, August 1946


2. 12 & 12, p. 141 

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery