Corking the Bottle

Paradox (noun) -- A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well-founded or true. A.A. admits to a paradox in describing the first tradition in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions . Tradition #1 states, "Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity." (page 9) Hmmmm... I  thought I was the most important person in the room, meaning A.A. depends upon me; and you and you and you and you. Which is more true: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts? (Aristotle)  Or is the sum of its parts greater than the whole? You might argue that A.A. is greater than the individuals who comprise it. That's true of sports teams that seem to always win without a star player. But it's A.A.'s function to make me a better person, right?  So the welfare of A.A. members must be enhanced or they won't attend and the whole will die, thus suggesting the parts a...

Let's consider today the paradox of giving up alcohol. No one could make me quit. I had to have the desire to do it and then accept the guidance of A.A. and therapists. Yesterday's Daily Reflection called sobriety "an individual adventure, something which each one of us works out in his own way." True, but I can't do it myself. I need a sponsor. I need the support of other recovering alcoholics. I need the care and concern of my family. In my case, I need medication, professional therapists, psychiatrists, and a month of in-patient rehab. See the paradox? Recovery is an individual thing that we can't do alone.