"Working with others is only the beginning of service work."
Basic Text, p. 59
Service work calls for a selfless devotion to carrying the message to the still-suffering addict. But our attitude of service cannot stop there. Service also requires that we look at ourselves and our motives. Our efforts at service make us highly visible to the fellowship. In NA, it is easy to become a "big fish in a little pond." Our controlling attitude can easily drive away the newcomer.
Group conscience is one of the most important principles in service. It is vital to remember that the group conscience is what counts, not just our individual beliefs and desires. We lend our thoughts and beliefs to the development of a group conscience. Then when that conscience arises, we accept its guidance. The key is working with others, not against them. If we remember that we strive together to develop a collective conscience, we will see that all sides have equal merit. When all the discussions are over, all sides will come back together to carry a unified message.
It is often tempting to think that we know what is best for the group. If we remember that it doesn't matter if we get our way, then it is easier to allow service to be the vehicle it is intended to be - a way to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.
Just for Today: I will take part in the development of group conscience. I will remember that the world won't end just because I don't get my way. I will think about our primary purpose in all my service efforts. I will reach out to a newcomer.
[Our controlling attitude can easily drive away the newcomer.]
Yes just for today we will stop trying to control the newcomer with the clarity statement.We can see now through the na traditions that na should not try to control any of its members for now we know that all na members and especially new comers are encouraged to use their own words alcoholic/sober when sharing the simple message of their own experience at an na gathering,
Trad.11 pg.208 Each of us has our own life,our own words and our own story,all adding dimension and color to the message of our fellowship.
It works How and Why.
Tradition 8 Pg 188,What is Narcotics Anonymous, after all, but a fellowship of addicts freely sharing with one another the simple message of their own experience.
Just for today we give thanks for the na traditions. Just for today we give thanks that we now know when we try to control na members with the clarity statement we drive them away.
"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
Service is indeed working with others. When I work with others towards achieving a common goal, stepping back from what I want for my group or subcommittee or area, and instead express how I feel it could be done and then ask the ones I serve and the others with whom I work with how they feel we could go ahead, I've always found that what transpires as a result is truly a miracle of our Higher Power at work, through me, through others, through the 'us'.
My mind would fill me with fears of what might happen if it's done in a different way than how I feel it must be done, I imagine disaster, I try to operate on this fear, express some more, try to convince others, take all the time and space in promoting my view, immediately jump in with a 'no that wont work' when someone else expresses a different point of view, somehow my disease makes me believe that I'm above the group conscience, I start thinking and feeling that the way it's all suggested to be practiced in the guidelines and the handbooks is somehow not suitable in this situation, I even start distorting and misinterpreting what group conscience is all about. My need to control forces me to justify its existence...
Surrender is the key for me! To put a stop to all the drama, to fold my cards and to accept that I'm just a spoke in a wheel. To move away from the grip of my self-centeredness into God-centeredness, to realize that my need to feed my ego is a sham... It's very relieving, very liberating... it's real freedom from active addiction!
I shall try to remember two things that made an impact on me from this JFT reading - "The key is working with others, not against them" & "that all sides have equal merit."
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
