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| The Serenity Prayer |
Monday, Sept. 29, 2014
"12. - ...(W)e of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Appendices, "The Twelve Traditions" (long form), pp 567-68.
Today, I consider the last of our Program's 12 Traditions, that anonymity of all those in the Program is a principle rather than a courtesy. If we can understand that a principle is an ethic that governs our Program, any personal differences we have may become insignificant and futile in the goal of our individual recoveries and the effectiveness of the Program as a whole. As the 12th Tradition also promises, anonymity has the spiritual power for us to be hungry for "genuine humility." And what is humility? As defined earlier in the Big Book, humility is our desire to know and carry out the will of our Higher Power - as we understand Him - and not our own will. Today, I renew my commitment to respect the 12th Tradition, and all others, as an ethical code and not as a courtesy to other members. In the process, God granting, may I know the humility of the principle of anonymity and, maybe more, develop a higher sense of responsibility to sobriety with which the Program has entrusted me. And our common journey continues. After the tears. - Chris M., 2014
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