Courage to Change:
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 my 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