OCTOBER 1
LEST WE BECOME COMPLACENT
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85
When I am in pain it is easy to stay close to the friends I have found in the program. Relief from that pain is provided in the solutions contained in A.A.’s Twelve Steps. But when I am feeling good and things are going well, I can become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get into action, to take stock: where am I and where am I going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to regain spiritual balance. Admitting what I find within myself, to God and to another human being, keeps me honest and humble.October Birthdays… IF They Make It!
October 15th… Mike B. celebrates 18 years
October 16th… Kevin O. celebrates 4 years
October 19th… Mike F. celebrates 13 years
October 19th… Ed D. celebrates 39 years
October 20th… Mike M. celebrates 6 years
October 22nd… Jeff S. celebrates 2 years
October 23rd… Scott Y. celebrates 6 years
If your birthday has been missed…. fill out the birthday form.
We really want to celebrate your AA anniversary because your birthday made ours possible!
Thanks everybody and apologies to you if you were missed or incorrectly noted.
First Wednesday… October 2nd
Come join a review of Step 10 on October 2nd (First Wednesday). “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
John reviews the step corresponding to the number of that month on each first Wednesday. It’s a rewarding meeting with John outlining the step of the month, how he was challenged by it and how we tackle it ourselves, with and without success! Look for his monthly contribution in this edition!
Business meeting
3809 J St.
november 8, 11:00am
Followed by our regular meeting
Keep an eye out for email with further details.
Keeping in Step
Has anybody ever had an inventory job? They aren’t that fun even if you’re getting paid for it. As we discussed in the last chapter……
Step Nine was cleaning up all the messes in the past. I added a caveat. Where possible. Now in Step 10 we are asked to like being your own tour manager, making sure you don’t need another apology tour next year.
I do try but I am becoming more aware these days that I am beginning my self-reflections by asking myself what day it is. Then the other thing I am finding out….
Supposedly, the Oakland A’s played their last game at the Oakland Coliseum last Thursday. I watched from home but there were 6 guys on a text thread reminiscing about times we had there, plays we saw there, bands we saw there…. All going fine until someone asked what was the name of the restaurant I was at the week before with one of the other guys. “Gaddam… what is the name of that place?” And this is happening more and more often.
I imagine if I was drinking it would be worse.
My youngest daughter had a lot of stuff going on last week, so I spent a lot of time with the Ex. At one point, I realized she is an audience of one, and I can honestly say I do not think she appreciates my humor. I realized she is the subject of a lot of my humor. Partly because I am hardened by the opposite sex, my attitude somewhat reflected in the humor of the late great Sam Kinison. I dunno, I try to convince myself that she does open herself up ..a little. Give you an example.
The other night we are at dinner. I cannot see a TV in the bar area, but she can. Georgia is playing Alabama. She tells me I am not missing anything, Alabama is killing Georgia 30-7. The next day , I see Alabama won 40-34. I point that out, saying, it looks like we missed a pretty good game. She replies, “Doesn’t matter, I hate them both” Oh, I ask – Why? “I just do”. Okay… She is, after all, a football fan. Watched USC Wisconsin on her own but Hates both Alabama and Georgia… I don’t think she can name a player for either team… I expect ambivalence ..maybe. But hates them…
I could further the discussion but doing so is wrought with danger and pitfalls. So, there is that self-congratulations for avoiding that. But… No matter how much you do, there’s always more waiting. So, what’s my point? There has to be one in here somewhere.
I guess it would be to be cognizant of the others around oneself. I have and do try to be more of a listener as a sober person. Lord knows, if there is a quota for prognostication of opinions I surpassed it long ago.
Remember the Annual Meeting is Friday, November 8th. At 11:00 AM, PST Tijuana.
Contributed by John M.
Tradition 10
Short Form
“Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.“
Long Form
“No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues — particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever.”
Tradition Summary
Outside Issues Can Tear Us Apart
What is an outside issue? An outside issue is anything outside of my relationship with God through sobriety.
The tenth tradition is rather clear as it applies to A.A. We have prospered by having no opinion on outside matters and not being drawn into controversy. For instance, A.A. has avoided the outside issues that tore apart the Washingtonians. A.A. has never become crusaders or taken stands on important but outside issues, “particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion”. (See the long form of this tradition)
Bill Wilson differentiates the responsibilities of the A.A. member and the A.A. group in this tradition by saying on p. 177 of the “12 & 12” that the tenth tradition does not “mean that the members of Alcoholics Anonymous, now restored as citizens of the world, are going to back away from their individual responsibilities to act as they see the right upon issues of our time. But when it comes to A.A. as a whole, that’s quite a different matter. In this respect, we do not enter into public controversy because we know that our society will perish if it does.”
Step-Tradition Parallel
The relationship of the tenth tradition to the tenth step is this: I can be at peace and avoid outside issues by taking my inventory and not yours. I avoid controversy by taking stands with the attitude of a peacemaker. The tenth concept of service takes the process one step further and specifies what kind of inventory I should be writing about: The responsibilities for which God has given me authority.
The tenth step poses the question, “How can I survive successfully in the world by taking my own inventory and promptly admitting it when I am wrong?” The tenth tradition supplies the answer; “I survive by being a peacemaker with you because I am at peace with myself through my own inventories.”
From an idea by George T.
My First Meeting
Please be “of service.” If you’ve never contributed a “My First Meeting”, please help to keep this column going…we need you! What do you remember most of your first meeting? It can be one sentence; it can be up to two paragraphs. Could be funny, poignant or strictly “clinical”. Write what you want…you might have enjoy writing it!
Step 2 Men’s Group Believes…
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
We’d never presume that the 12 Steps are not clear. Nor would we imply that they need ‘improvement’. However…for purposes of assisting to keep the meeting pointed in an important direction each day, the “Step 2 Men’s Group Statement” is read as follows:
Step 2 Men’s Group is founded on the belief that spirituality is essential to our sobriety.
Our group is non-religious, but we do not oppose anyone’s religious beliefs. We believe that respect for others and their beliefs is essential to our spiritual development.
Accordingly we ask that avoid criticism of others or of their religion or lack of religion, their race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance, trade or profession, length of sobriety, or personal beliefs.
Our goal is to further our spirituality, our sobriety and our personal development, not to confront or belittle others. Always remember to be kind to others.
Our Trusted Servants Continue to Be:
The current Step 2 Men’s Group meeting schedule is Monday, Wednesday & Friday at Tim’s (3809 J St), Tuesday & Thursday online, Saturday in the park is “Daily Reflections” and Sunday is our Rogue meeting in the park. Each gathering is one hour. Great job men!
- Monday: Tim C.
- Tuesday: Mark C.
- Wednesday: John M.
- Thursday: Sean F.
- Friday: Jon B.
- Saturday: Dave M.
- Sunday: Mark C.
Want to add your name to the “Back-up-Help-Substitute Secretary List”? Just contact Group GS, John M., Treasurer Mark W. or any of our other Secretaries and let them know!
Extra Special Thanks Dept:
Thanks to our General Secretary John M. for “Keeping in Step” and our Treasurer Mark W. for all your contributions. We’re still waiting for YOU gentle reader…Why don’t YOU contribute a short “something?” Any length, most any AA related topic. Reply now and it will get included next month!
Men’s Gazette – September 2024
Men’s Gazette – November 2024