Posts by: Rick W.

Emmet Fox and Alcoholics Anonymous

Emmet Fox and Alcoholics Anonymous

Copyright © The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., February 1996 One of the very early recovering alcoholics who worked with co-founder Bill W. was a man named Al, whose mother was secretary to Emmet Fox, a popular lecturer on New Thought philosophy. When the early groups were meeting in New York, members would frequently adjourn after a …

There Are No “Musts” in the Program

There Are No “Musts” in the Program

How many times have you heard that said in meetings of Alcoholic Anonymous? After being around the rooms for over three decades, I continue to be amazed at the amount of things bantered around A.A. meetings that have no foundation in our program of action (the first 164 pages of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous).  The …

Life On Life’s Terms

Life On Life’s Terms

Greetings family – I had a sponsee reach out to me via text this morning and asked this question… “Do you know a good reading from AA literature about dealing with life on life’s terms? Obviously the acceptance stuff, but maybe something else?”  Because I am fully aware how my thinking is my problem today …

My Four Awakenings

My Four Awakenings

Just my experience… I am grateful beyond measure that I have allowed myself to experience #teachablemoments in A.A. where I could continue to grow. My willingness to listen to those that have gone before me (and to THEIR experience) has certainly given me many awakenings on my journey. While there have been many lessons learned, …

The Importance of a Home Group

The Importance of a Home Group

When I first came into AA, I didn’t have the understanding of the home group I have today.  That said, I will say that my first home group was a place that allowed me to identify.  There were people in that group that told my story, shared feelings and emotions that I felt and had, …

Action & More Action

Action & More Action

Greetings family, I drove to Abilene, TX (about 3 hours West of Fort Worth) yesterday for a service commitment and heard a speaker say in a lead that her sponsor had told her early on, “It doesn’t matter how you feel, it matters what you do.” For some reason, of all the great things she …

Seconds and Inches

Seconds and Inches

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “If/Then”? IF this happens… THEN this occurs? I was recently sitting down with a sponsee who is 29 years sober and in the middle of A.A. doing some work in the Big Book. We were sharing our thoughts with each other about the providence (definition: timely preparation for …

The Relationship Between General Service and Intergroups

The Relationship Between General Service and Intergroups

In a 2011 letter, former General Service Board Chair, Ward Ewing, sums up the relationship, “In some places, a reciprocal relationship exists between Intergroups/Central Offices and the Area structure. In these cases, an Intergroup may have a liaison to the Area and the Area may have a liaison to the Intergroup – in some instances …