Question
2:
“Would
the Fellowship ask itself the question: “Are there too many
meetings and not enough groups?”
Background
Pamphlet
‘The AA Group’
The
Home Group: Heartbeat of AA
Consider
the contribution to the carrying of the message, financial and
practical implications when deliberating each question.”
Extracts
“The
Formula That Works (AA Grapevine August 1947)
“We
say here in A.A. that we don't know what makes it work. Well, we
don't know just what makes it work; but I can think of one thing that
has an awful lot to do with making it work.
Did
you ever stop to think of the amount of love that is constantly being
manifested in A.A.? Not the human kind that man has for woman and
woman for man, but spiritual love.
Divine
Love is the greatest thing in the world--the healer of all
things--and in my opinion, that same Love is the back bone of A.A.
I
once read an analysis of love that seemed to me pretty accurate. The
word "love" was broken up into eight attributes. You will
notice that these eight attributes are not fancy words, but very
common, every-day ones. They are: Patience; kindness; generosity;
humility; courtesy; unselfishness; good temper; sincerity.
All
these attributes are being constantly manifested in A.A. Some call it
group therapy--I call it love. Can you think of anyone more badly in
need of love than the alcoholic? All avenues to love are eventually
closed to him and at last he finds himself on the Street of Regrets.
It is along about here, if he is lucky, that A.A. finds him standing
on its threshold.
The
first attribute of Love to be manifested in A.A. is that of courtesy.
Instead of "Scram, bum!" it now becomes, "Welcome,
brother!" Our newcomer is invited to sit down and we sit down
with him. We tell him our story and he tells us his, amazed, usually,
to find the pattern so similar. As this honest and sincere exchange
of stories takes place, something else also takes place--a new-found
hope--a new-found friend--someone who is interested in him.
He
is then introduced to others--all courteous, all sincere in their
desire to help him. He is advised to take down some telephone numbers
and to call any of these members if he feels jittery, and "talk
it over." He can't help but get the feeling that he is no longer
alone. He is walking hand in hand with hundreds of other alcoholics.
He
is urged to come back to as many meetings as he can. As he comes to
these meetings, he sees further evidences of Love. He sees people get
up on the platform and humbly tell stories of their drinking days
that are sometimes pretty sordid. For one reason only--with the hope
that in so stripping their souls and laying the horror of their
drinking days before you, they may help you.
As
the days go by, the new comer gradually sees more examples of
kindness, generosity, patience, humility. He sees people dashing up
to Knickerbocker Hospital, to the alcoholic wards of Kings County and
Bellevue.
He
sees and hears A.A. members talking to those who have unfortunately
gone "off the beam"; but he does not see those who have
"slipped" criticized, condemned. He sees them talked to
with patience, kindness, unselfishness--with Love. He sees families
given the same courteous, patient, unselfish attention the alcoholic
receives.
Little
by little this constant manifestation of Love begins to take effect
on our newcomer. He has been constantly surrounded by it, he has been
constantly receiving it, and now, as he begins to make the grade, he
begins to give it.
Slowly
but surely Divine Love has registered in all aspects with our
newcomer. Instead of fear, he now registers courage. Instead of
intolerance, he now displays patience. Instead of condemnation, he
now registers sympathetic understanding. Instead of sickness he has
health. Instead of weakness, there is strength.
One
can hardly recognize in this well-poised, clear-eyed, smartly groomed
confident man the once trembling, bleary-eyed, sick, weak, fearful
creature who a short time ago crept through the doorway of A.A. A
miracle stands before you!
Jack
C. Manhattan, New York”
Comment:
How to carry the AA message – by example! And what a contrast with
the cult's dogmatic, intolerant and abusive style!
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
