working with others

So...I pulled out the Big Book of AA to find that reference about helping another alcoholic....and I found all sorts of interesting things as I flipped through it.

I always do :)

It's an interesting book.

In the section about 'working with others'...the 'instructions' given are quite different than what I see happening in 12 step groups...it says "If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other spiritual approach, encourage him to follow his own conscience..........we merely have an approach that worked for us. But point out that we alcoholics have much in common and that you would like to be friendly. Let it go at that"

follow his own conscience.....I often hear people saying "look where YOUR thinking got you!"

and...in the book....there's this "Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection. Show him how they worked with you. Offer him friendship and fellowship. Tell him that if he wants to get well you willl do anything to help."

From time to time...someone will post (at a website for compulsive gamblers) some information from the Big Book of AA and inevitably someone will protest "We are not alcoholics! We don't need that information..we have our OWN program, our OWN literature!"

yes...we do....literature that says "Honesty, openmindedness and willingness are the keywords in our recovery........"