Tradition One - Unity
So last night was tradition night, a discussion of the twelve traditions that go along with the twelve steps. I really wasn't thrilled about having traditions when it is enough work just to do the steps but I am now realizing why they are there.
Unity is tradition one - the fact the AlAnon group is unified in an effort against a common foe, an uncontrolled life of living with someone who is an alcoholic, whether they be family or friend. I think that includes standing together against a common enemy of trying to control the world around you, something everyone in the group suffers from.
Welp, the group told stories, discussed battles won and lost, and explored heartaches and triumphs from their lives. It is a most interesting experience since I know I am witnessing a form of emotional nudity. No one is clothed in pretense, all come baring their souls, sharing their anger, hurt, hope, dispair, or whatever prevelant emotion is hammering them on this day. No one interrupts. No one judges. No one puts them down. They listen. They tell their own story. They stand unified.
Last night I witnessed this on a whole new level. A person coming off the street, thinking we were a church group so that he could ask for ten dollars for a fix. When he realized we were an AlAnon group, he sat down and worked the program, being honest about his intentions and stating what he really needed was a fix... a fix of coming together with a community who understood his addiction, would not feed it, but instead would help him not give into it. No one judged him, they instead embraced him. No, he didn't get the ten bucks, but he left smiling and for a moment he left sober.
So this morning I am wondering why it is our other "communities" are not so supportive. The community we work in every day, the churches we worship in, or even our community of family. Aren't they all full of adversity and challenge? Doesn't everyone deserve the security and hope of having people surround them to support them instead of judging them?
I'm thinking it is a tradition this whole world needs.
Unity is tradition one - the fact the AlAnon group is unified in an effort against a common foe, an uncontrolled life of living with someone who is an alcoholic, whether they be family or friend. I think that includes standing together against a common enemy of trying to control the world around you, something everyone in the group suffers from.
Welp, the group told stories, discussed battles won and lost, and explored heartaches and triumphs from their lives. It is a most interesting experience since I know I am witnessing a form of emotional nudity. No one is clothed in pretense, all come baring their souls, sharing their anger, hurt, hope, dispair, or whatever prevelant emotion is hammering them on this day. No one interrupts. No one judges. No one puts them down. They listen. They tell their own story. They stand unified.
Last night I witnessed this on a whole new level. A person coming off the street, thinking we were a church group so that he could ask for ten dollars for a fix. When he realized we were an AlAnon group, he sat down and worked the program, being honest about his intentions and stating what he really needed was a fix... a fix of coming together with a community who understood his addiction, would not feed it, but instead would help him not give into it. No one judged him, they instead embraced him. No, he didn't get the ten bucks, but he left smiling and for a moment he left sober.
So this morning I am wondering why it is our other "communities" are not so supportive. The community we work in every day, the churches we worship in, or even our community of family. Aren't they all full of adversity and challenge? Doesn't everyone deserve the security and hope of having people surround them to support them instead of judging them?
I'm thinking it is a tradition this whole world needs.
Labels: Workin' the steps
posted by Frustrated Writer | 4:47 AM
2 Comments:
I'm glad the gentleman stayed and that the group you're in was welcoming and embraced him.
I've often wondered why these qualities were not an ordinary element of humane living...
I only hope that everyone integrates this kind of normal human sharing and openness into all of their inter-actions. This hope keeps me excited, enthusiastic and reading books about our tommorrow. (And..., putting stock in the half-full markets of next week...:))
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