“Into your weak and feeble hands I have entrusted a Power beyond your estimate.
To you have been given that which has been denied the most learned of your fellows. Not to scientists or statesman, not to the wives or for I have mothers, not even into My priests and ministers have I given this gift of healing other alcoholics, which I entrust to you. It must be used unselfishly. It carries with it grave responsibility.
No day can be too long, no demands upon your time can be too urgent, no case to pitiable, no task too hard, no effort to great. It must be used with tolerance, for I have restricted its application to no race, no creed and no denomination. Personal criticism you must expect, lack of appreciation will be between yourselves, or your organization whose success depends on numbers, money and position.
These material things are no parts of your creed. The success of material organization comes from the pooling of joint assets; yours from the union of mutual liabilities. Appeal for membership in material organizations is based upon a boastful recital of their accomplishments; you’re on the humble admission of weakness; the motto of successful commercial enterprise is: “He profits most who serves the best.”
The wealth of material organizations, when they take their inventory, is measured by what they have left; yours when you take a moral inventory, by what you have given.”
Published by the Cleveland District Office of
Alcoholics Anonymous