AA According To…
June 19, 2007 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Who? Me? You?
No, it doesn’t work that way.
I’m reading another Blog whereon someone takes great pains to decide for a lot of folks whether they truly are or are not real alcoholics, apparently in some mis-guided attempt to weed out some level of our membership by the use of the unaided will.
Disturbing as that may be, fortunately I find myself referring to the same literature this person refers to – The Big Book. Here, I must admit, I take words very literally. So, when I read page 31 and it says “We do not like to pronounce any individual as alcoholic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself,” I begin to wonder why, why, why, someone would put so much effort into attempting to pronounce any individual non-alcoholic?
Perhaps it is fear? Are you afraid AA will disappear in your lifetime? Are you afraid some non-alcoholic member of AA is going to kill another? Perhaps you? Then I’d ask – how about your Third Step? Your Eleventh Step?
“When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation – some fact of my life – unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.”
Gotta learn to practice what I preach 
I do not have a degree which entitles me to diagnose. Neither did our founders and they knew it, thankfully. Where does “but you can quickly diagnose yourself” say “oh, by the way, if you’re not coming up with your own diagnosis, I’ll be more than happy to pronounce you one way or the other.” Better yet – “Your self-diagnosis is wrong and I want you to leave right now because I’m right.” And – I have the right to do this because my understanding of the words in the Book is pure and perfect.
I’ll stick to what my lamea** sponsor taught me, thank you. He taught me that any day someone, anyone, who admits to having this disease doesn’t take the first drink it is a victory over death! Yes, I have known those who most definitely are not real alkies who have died as a result of alcohol! Haven’t you?
Whether any of us wants to believe this or not, this is still the world according to God and guess what? You and I are not God!
As I live and try to progress each day as a sober man, I become less and less burdened by the responsibility of labelling my fellow man. The freedom this affords me is tremendous.
The day I forget that I and you are a part of God, I am in trouble.
Agreed Scott, agreed…
Bill W. said we’d destroy ourselves from within, and in many ways we are. When we forget that our only primary purpose is to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers, a little piece of A.A. is lost forever.
Jo – I agree with you also, and, I have a question for which I have a personal, opinionated answer
The question is, “What is the message we are carrying?”
I’d like to hear what everyone thinks the answer to that is…
The message that I carry is AA’s message. !2 steps which guarantee a spiritual awakening to be the result. My obligation is to try to share my experience with those twelve steps with other Alcoholics and to practice the 12 disciplines in all my affairs. Most important to me is that I be cognisant that this is AA’s program and AA’s steps! Not mine! My program is what brought me to AA! One path of steps which provide access to power. I do not gain power through the steps I gain access to power. All twelve steps, all day, everyday for a lifetime, to the best of my ability. This is not a program where I came to “not drink” one day at a time; it is a prgram, a design for living, that enables me to live one day at a time! That is the message I try to carry
Awwwl right!!! Thanks Joe!
I believe it is stated that: “Our primary purpose is to stay sober…..”