Endigar 619 ~ The Hazards of Publicity
From the Daily Reflections of November 26;
People who symbolize causes and ideas fill a deep human need. We of A.A. do not question that. But we do have to soberly face the fact that being in the public eye is hazardous, especially for us. (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 181)
As a recovered alcoholic I must make an effort to put into practice the principles of the A.A. program, which are founded on honesty, truth and humility. While I was drinking I was constantly trying to be in the limelight. Now that I am conscious of my mistakes and of my former lack of integrity, it would not be honest to seek prestige, even for the justifiable purpose of promoting the A.A. message of recovery. Is the publicity that centers around the A.A. Fellowship and the miracles it produces not worth much more? Why not let the people around us appreciate by themselves the changes that A.A. has brought in us, for that will be a far better recommendation for the Fellowship than any I could make.
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Is this concern somewhat outdated? AA has entered the world stage and matured into a mainstream institution. It is well known. I think there is even less reason to risk putting our individual lives under the public microscope in order to offer tangible evidence that it works to the general public. We do not have the rock star potential that the early founders and their crew did. The impossible happened and the witnesses to the event have spoken. I think the current membership will have its hands full providing speakers to share experience, strength, and hope to the still suffering masses who come to us and meet us within the rooms of our Fellowship.
Daily Reprieve 
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