Endigar 430 ~ Equal Rights
From Today’s Daily Reflections;
At one time or another most A.A. groups go on rule-making benders. . . After a time fear and intolerance subside. [and we realize] We do not wish to deny anyone his chance to recover from alcoholism. We wish to be just as inclusive as we can, never exclusive. (“A.A. Tradition: How it Developed,” pages 10, 11, 12)
A.A. offered me complete freedom and accepted me into the Fellowship for myself. Membership did not depend upon conformity, financial success or education and I am so grateful for that. I often ask myself if I extend the same equality to others or if I deny them the freedom to be different. Today I try to replace my fear and intolerance with faith, patience, love and acceptance. I can bring these strengths to my A.A. group, my home and my office. I make an effort to bring my positive attitude everywhere that I go.
I have neither the right, nor the responsibility, to judge others. Depending on my attitude I can view newcomers to A.A., family members and friends as menaces or as teachers. When I think of some of my past judgments, it is clear how my self-righteousness caused me spiritual harm.
END OF QUOTE
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“The rule is that we must be hard on ourself, but always considerate of others.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 74)
What keeps freedom from being abdication of responsibility? When does the notion of tolerance become the social slumber of apathy? In the beginning, A.A. was able to offer me complete freedom and acceptance because the tyranny of alcoholism was threatening my survival. If I did not comply with the program that was suggested as a means of recovery, everything I loved, including my own life, could be taken from me.
A.A. was an underground refuge of freedom in a world of alcoholic oblivion.
Ultimately, I must have a spiritual awakening in order to keep that negative freedom from alcohol and turn it to the positive freedom of personal power. Armed with tools of internal transformation, I can give to myself more than tolerance. I have become someone I accept and appreciate.
When I know the miracle of my own growth and empowerment, others can no longer threaten me. I trust them to the same process that helped me to embrace my life.
I have just added a new page; The 82 Occurrences of the Word Must in the BB. I took it from the following page (and sourced them in the page):
http://home.earthlink.net/~insure/Big_Book_Musts.html
Daily Reprieve 
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