Tradition II
– “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”
As I first started reflecting on Tradition II to write this essay for the website, I began to ask myself: Why did Bill W. decide to make the short form of this tradition longer than the long form? After all wasn’t Bill W. trying to shorten the traditions to facilitate their acceptance by the fellowship? I can only theorize that Bill must have felt compelled by some set of past experiences or maybe even fears to feel that he needed to further clarify this tradition by adding, “Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern”, to “shorten” it.
I can say with almost certainty that I would not have gotten sober if it were not for Tradition Two. I quickly did a search on the AA Grapevine Archives to see if I could locate any writings or history on Bill’s addition to Tradition Two in its short form to no avail. With no real facts to go on I thought I would share my experience about why this facet of Tradition Two has been so meaningful to my recovery.
My first sponsor was the secretary at the initial meeting I attended after I had finally decided maybe I needed to stop drinking. It was clear from her actions and the warmth of her words that she was at the meeting to be of service. In turn, I felt like I could trust her. I can only imagine how different my experience could have been when I first met her if she had been shouting directives at folks and trying to manage the group’s affairs. This would have been particularly shocking to me as this was a meditation meeting. Reflecting on this experience reminds me of a statement that I have heard at meetings and in conversation with other AA members: What I do in AA is not as important as how I do it.
Within the first few weeks of my recovery I was asked to be a trusted servant. At the time I didn’t even realize I was trusted: let alone a servant. However, I did have an overwhelming sense that I needed to show up each week to fulfill my commitment to the group. To my great fortune the group trusted me. As the result of that trust I overcame my fears of making coffee. No one called me to remind me to show up. No one told me what kind of coffee, creamer or sweetener to buy. No one even offered me their opinion on how strong I should make the coffee. I truly believe that they were just happy to see me there sober week after week. Tradition Two was in action.
Today, I find that practicing Tradition Two in all my affairs to the best of my ability keeps my life and my recovery simple. I can let others have their own experiences. I don’t have to be in charge. Even if I think I know the right answer I don’t have to share it. I can trust that others will get the job done even if they don’t do it my way. Succinctly put in the Daily Reflections, “What a relief to know that people, places and things will be perfectly okay without my control and direction”.
Lastly, this Tradition reminds me that we are all equal in AA and that no one is placed in a position of authority over anyone regardless of service position or length of sobriety. I do the chores in AA not because I am told to but because I want to. And for that I am grateful!
