A POWERFUL TRADITION

The phrase 'A POWERFUL TRADITION' points straight to the backbone of our Fellowship — the Twelve Traditions. In the Big Book you'll find them starting on page 563, and they are just as vital to our survival as the Steps are to our recovery. Tradition One says, 'Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity' [Page 563]. That's no small claim. It means the very thing that saves my hide — my sobriety — is tied directly to how well we stick together. When I honor the Traditions, I'm not being a good soldier; I'm protecting the lifeboat that picked me up. And Tradition Five reminds us that each group has but one primary purpose: to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers [Page 564]. That keeps us focused and free from outside entanglements. A powerful tradition indeed — it's the invisible architecture that lets the miracle happen, meeting after meeting.