As Bill Sees It

[CarolD]

*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*

Citizens Again

"Each of us in turn - that is, the member who gets the most out of the program - spends a very large amount of time on Twelfth Step work in the early years. That was my case, and perhaps I should not have stayed sober with less work.
"However, sooner or later most of us are presented with other obligations - to family, friends, and country. As you will remember, the Twelfth Step also refers to "'practicing these principles in all our affairs." Therefore, I think your choice of whether to take a particular Twelfth Step job is to be found in your own conscience. No one else can tell you for certain what you ought to do at a particular time.
"I just know that you are expected, at some point, to do more than carry the message of A.A. to other alcoholics. In A.A. we aim not only for sobriety - we try again to become citizens of the world that we rejected, and of the world that once rejected us. This is the ultimate demonstration toward which Twelfth Step work is the first but not the final step."

LETTER, 1959

[MCH]

I remember how this scared me when I first read it because I was incapable of communication outside of AA, even inside AA I had trouble relating in the beginning. But I slowly became a part of a group, then another, and was eventually quite at ease in the fellowship. I remained pretty stiff outside the doors of AA for a long time, but I'm grateful that the 12 steps and the safety I found in the friendships in the program have helped me make my way in the outside world. I have a great job with the public today and its a pleasure and a privilege be able to practice these principles in all my affairs and to be a "citizen again".