Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 31
AVOIDING CONTROVERSY
All history affords us the spectacle of striving nations and
groups finally torn asunder because they were designed for,
or tempted into, controversy. Others fell apart because of
sheer self-righteousness while trying to enforce upon the
rest of mankind some millennium of their own specification.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 176
As an A.A. member and sponsor, I know I can cause real
damage if I yield to temptation and give opinions and
advice on another's medical, marital, or religious problems.
I am not a doctor, counselor, or lawyer. I cannot tell anyone
how he or she should live; however, I can share how I came
through similar situations without drinking, and how A.A.'s
Steps and Traditions help me in dealing with my life.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 30
LIVE AND LET LIVE
Never since it began has Alcoholics Anonymous been
divided by a major controversial issue. Nor has our
Fellowship ever publicly taken sides on any question in an
embattled world. This, however, has been no earned virtue.
It could almost be said that we were born with it. . . . "So
long as we don't argue these matters privately, it's a cinch
we never shall publicly."
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 176
Do I remember that I have a right to my opinion but that
others don't have to share it? That's the spirit of "Live and
Let Live." The Serenity Prayer reminds me, with God's
help, to "Accept the things I cannot change." Am I still
trying to change others? When it comes to "Courage to
change the things I can," do I remember that my opinions
are mine, and yours are yours? Am I still afraid to be me?
When it comes to "Wisdom to know the difference," do I
remember that my opinions come from my experience? If I
have a know-it-all attitude, aren't I being deliberately
controversial?

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 29
OUR SURVIVAL
Since recovery from alcoholism is life itself to us, it is
imperative that we preserve in full strength our means of
survival.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 177
The honesty expressed by the members of A.A. in meetings
has the power to open my mind. Nothing can block the
flow of energy that honesty carries with it. The only
obstacle to this flow of energy is inebriation, but even then,
no one will find a closed door if he or she has left and
chooses to return. Once he or she has received the gift of
sobriety, each A.A. member is challenged on a daily basis
to accept a program of honesty.
My Higher Power created me for a purpose in life. I ask
him to accept my honest efforts to continue on my journey
in the spiritual way of life. I call on Him for strength to
know and seek His will.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 28
AN UNBROKEN TRADITION
We conceive the survival and spread of Alcoholics
Anonymous to be something of far greater importance than
the weight we could collectively throw back of any other
cause.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 177
How much it means to me that an unbroken tradition of
more than half a century is a thread that connects me to Bill
W. and Dr. Bob. How much more grounded I feel to be in a
Fellowship whose aims are constant and unflagging. I am
grateful that the energies of A.A. have never been
scattered, but focused instead on our members and on
individual sobriety.
My beliefs are what make me human; I am free to hold
any opinion, but A.A.'s purpose—so clearly stated fifty
years ago—is for me to keep sober. That purpose has
promoted round-the-clock meeting schedules, and the
thousands of intergroup and central service offices, with
their thousands of volunteers. Like the sun focused through
a magnifying glass, A.A.'s single vision has lit a fire of
faith in sobriety in millions of hearts, including mine.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 27
GLOBAL SHARING
The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who
has found a key to sobriety. These legacies of suffering and
of recovery are easily passed among alcoholics, one to the
other. This is our gift from God, and its bestowal upon
others like us is the one aim that today animates A. A. 's all
around the globe.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151
The strength of Alcoholics Anonymous lies in the desire of
each member and of each group around the world to share
with other alcoholics their suffering and the steps taken to
gain, and maintain, recovery. By keeping a conscious
contact with my Higher Power, I make sure that I always
nurture my desire to help other alcoholics, thus insuring the
continuity of the wonderful fraternity of Alcoholics
Anonymous.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 26
ONE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—
a loving God as He may express Himself in our group
conscience.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 132
When I am chosen to carry some small responsibility for
my fellows, I ask that God grant me the patience, openmindedness,
and willingness to listen to those I would lead.
I must remind myself that I am the trusted servant of others,
not their "governor," "teacher," or "instructor." God guides
my words and my actions, and my responsibility is to heed
His suggestions. Trust is my watchword, I trust others who
lead. In the Fellowship of A.A., I entrust God with the
ultimate authority of "running the show."

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 25
A.A.'s HEARTBEAT
Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; . . .
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 125
Without unity I would be unable to recover in A.A. on a
daily basis. By practicing unity within my group, with other
A.A. members and at all levels of this great Fellowship, I
receive a pronounced feeling of knowing that I am a part of
a miracle that was divinely inspired. The ability of Bill W.
and Dr. Bob, working together and passing it on to other
members, tells me that to give it away is to keep it. Unity is
oneness and yet the whole Fellowship is for all of us.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 24
"BY FAITH AND BY WORKS"
On anvils of experience, the structure of our Society was
hammered out. . . . Thus has it been with A.A. By faith and
by works we have been able to build upon the lessons of an
incredible experience. They live today in the Twelve
Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, which—God
willing—shall sustain us in unity for so long as He may
need us.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 131
God has allowed me the right to be wrong in order for our
Fellowship to exist as it does today. If I place God's will
first in my life, it is very likely that A.A. as I know it today
will remain as it is.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 23
WHAT WE KNOW BEST
"Shoemaker, stick to thy last!" . . . better do one thing
supremely well than many badly. That is the central theme
of this Tradition [Five]. Around it our Society gathers in
unity. The very life of our Fellowship requires the
preservation of this principle.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 150
The survival of A.A. depends upon unity. What would
happen if a group decided to become an employment
agency, a treatment center or a social service agency? Too
much specialization leads to no specialization, to frittering
of efforts and, finally, to decline. I have the qualifications
to share my sufferings and my way of recovery with the
newcomer. Conformity to A.A.'s primary purpose insures
the safety of the wonderful gift of sobriety, so my responsibility
is enormous. The life of millions of alcoholics
is closely tied to my competence in "carrying the message
to the still-suffering alcoholic."

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 22
TRUE TOLERANCE
Finally, we begin to see that all people, including
ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as
frequently wrong and then we approach true tolerance and
see what real love for our fellows actually means
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 92
The thought occurred to me that all people are emotionally
ill to some extent. How could we not be? Who among us is
spiritually perfect? Who among us is physically perfect?
How could any of us be emotionally perfect? Therefore,
what else are we to do but bear with one another and treat
each other as we would be treated in similar circumstances?
That is what love really is.

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Words Of Wisdom From His Holiness Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama
Once we have a firm practice of compassion our state of mind becomes stronger which leads to inner peace, giving rise to self-confidence, which reduces fear. This makes for constructive members of the community. Self-centredness on the other hand leads to distance, suspicion, mistrust and loneliness, with unhappiness as the result.