Our ability to survive as a brotherhood and to reach out to others depends on our unity.
Works, First Tradition, “Applying Spiritual Principles”
We carry all our old views with us when we come to the SE. Being intolerant or even hostile towards people of different backgrounds may have been part of our personality when we used to. Some of us harbored prejudices based on race, ethnicity, or culture. Others held negative views of certain religious or non-religious beliefs or sexual and racial categories. Our judgment of age, disability, income, even what neighborhoods people lived in affected how we felt about them.
It takes time to realize that our old ways of thinking may not serve us in this new way of life. And it takes even longer to change the way we think and behave. We often come across opportunities to grow as we offer services in the SE. A member shared that he got into a fight with another member of his group. "He was so rigid in his views and seemed to be against everything I was for," muttered the junkie. Many of us have found ourselves similarly frustrated.
Especially early in recovery, it's almost reflexive to assume that our way is the best way and they—whoever "they" are—must be wrong.
Fortunately, our supporters can convince us in this regard. They help us see that we have taken for granted that others must think, feel and communicate as we do. As we get to know people from different backgrounds, we begin to see the value of our inclusion. Life is more interesting when viewed from multiple perspectives. We adopt a mindset of good choice and unity shows us how to put we over ego as we focus on our common well-being. United by the bonds that unite us, we let go of our prejudices and embrace diversity as an asset.
I need NA to thrive, so today I will choose to apply the principle of unity by leaving behind my old ideas and accepting all members of our brotherhood.
