Endigar 1001
From Courage to Change of Aug 18:
Tradition Six tells us, “Our Family Groups ought never endorse, finance, or lend our name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual aim.”
I’ve had occasion to refer to this Tradition many times while doing service work at our local Al-Anon information office. I often receive requests for Al-Anon’s endorsement from various research projects, charities, and treatment programs. These requests always pique my interest, and many appear to have merit.
As an individual, I am free to participate in any cause I support. As an Al-Anon member, I am free to send information about our fellowship to outside organizations. But I cannot consider affiliating y group with these outside enterprises, no matter how worthy they may be. Doing so could divert us from the primary spiritual aim of our program, which is to help families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of alcoholism.
Today’s Reminder
I come to Al-Anon to receive the spiritual benefit of the meetings, principles, and fellowship. I wish to do my part to see that we are not diverted from our primary aim.
“We must always remember why we are here, and never use the group to promote our pet projects, or our personal interests in outside causes.” ~ Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions for Alateen
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There is a healing stillness to our rooms—one I’ve come to cherish as fiercely as my own sobriety. In a world overflowing with noise, persuasion, and agendas, the 12 Step fellowship offers something radically rare: a spiritual refuge where no one is selling, convincing, or recruiting. It is a sanctuary, not a stage.
Tradition Six reminds me that this quiet integrity must be protected. It exists not because outside causes are wrong, but because our mission is singular. We are here to help families and friends of alcoholics recover. That’s not narrow—it’s precise. It’s the spiritual precision that gives our fellowship its staying power. The minute we try to leverage our collective name for outside recognition or moral endorsement; we dilute the medicine.
This Tradition also teaches me something deeper about ego. My causes, my passion projects, my hopes for reform—they may all be worthy. But I don’t get to smuggle them into the room wrapped in group’s authority. To do so would be to hijack the very humility this program has gifted me. This boundary is a protective embrace.
Daily Reprieve 
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