Bookmarks – March – The Big Three

The Big Three

Like most home groups, mine holds a monthly Steps/Traditions meeting.

We did something a little different this month, using two books to delve into Step Three: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him”.

We read from Paths to Recovery, which explains the thinking behind each Step, and Reaching for Personal Freedom, reading the introduction and then the short paragraphs leading up to each question.

I especially enjoyed the illustration in Paths to Recovery of the three frogs on a lily pad. One made a decision to jump off but hadn’t made the actual leap.

And the questions in the Reaching for Personal Freedom section brought out some great sharing in our group.

My sponsor, who chaired the meeting, called Paths to Recovery (B-24), Reaching for Personal Freedom (P-92) and Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (B-8) “the core books for the Steps.” They are the Big Three.

When needed, our group also holds a group conscious meeting after our Step/Tradition meeting. Last month we talked about doing public outreach but decided to wait until this month’s meeting before taking any action (kind of like the one frog). Along with ordering several copies of the new Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27), we decided to purchase 200 copies of Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism (AFAM).

Initially, we thought about getting 50 copies, but as we brainstormed and members chimed in about where we could take the magazine, the number of places just grew and grew. Counselors’, doctors’ and dentists’ offices; police departments; and libraries are just a few of the locations where we will ask first before we leave any copies. We also plan to make copies of our updated Al-Anon district meeting brochure and place them inside the magazines we distribute.

I think the decision to order Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism energized all of us! Hopefully, our efforts at public outreach will be welcomed, and we can spread the word about Al-Anon, and offer hope to families struggling with this cunning, baffling and powerful disease.

Thanks for letting me share!