Work, work, work with Step 12

Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all our affairs. 

Honey Bee, worker bee

Koan:  Dongshan was sweeping one day when someone said to him, “Work, work, work  - - all you do is work.”

            Dongshan replied, “I do it for another.”

            “Why don’t you get that other to do it for himself?”

            “Because he has no hands.”

Work, work, work - - we use this word a lot in AA.  “PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics,” (P. 89) thus begins the chapter Working With Others and Step 12. Funny, I just noticed the letters w-o-r-k are used 12 times in this chapter. Could Bill W. have done this on purpose?

So that’s what we do in Step 12 - - we do it for another. The suffering alcoholic “will be curious to learn why his own convictions have not worked and why yours seem to work so well.” P.93

“…any life run on self-will can hardly be a success.” P.60 And also, “RARELY HAVE we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.” P 58

“Why don’t you get that other to do it for himself?” We could change this to, “Why don’t you get this alcoholic to do it for himself?” What? Like work the Steps by himself? This alcoholic is also not equipped, because he has not learned the AA principles.

“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps” - - I would venture to say there are wisdom gates with every step along the way … whatever you call them, realizations, enlightenments, awakenings, they are all pointing in the same direction, and that’s “to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.” P 77

Service to others takes many forms. Sometimes we don’t even realize our service until someone comes up and tells us.  I like to sit in the same chair at every meeting I attend…a view seat.  On several occasions, people have come up to me and thanked me for this…that when they come into the meeting and see me sitting in the same place, it brings them a sense of continuity and support…all is well…

For most of the year, I bring a small bouquet of flowers to every meeting, except for a few months in the winter when cold and rains put a damper (pun intended) on blooming.  The water bottle “vase” is plopped down next to the secretary to give away later, sometimes to the speaker but preferably to a newcomer.  Thank  you for the flowers, they will tell me, they lasted a week, a reminder of this meeting. Our service work can be subtle.

Responsibility Statement: "I am Responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am responsible." 

We could call this our AA Bodhisattva Vow.

Bill K.