September 20

September 20 – AM          Page 95, Working With Others, Chapter 7

Unless your friend wants to talk further about himself, do not wear out your welcome.  Give him a chance to think it over.  If you do stay, let him steer the conversation in any direction he likes.  Sometimes a new man is anxious to proceed at once, and you may be tempted to let him do so.  This is sometimes a mistake.  If he has trouble later, he is likely to say you rushed him.  You will be most successful with alcoholics if you do not exhibit any passion for crusade or reform.  Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection.  Show him how they worked with you.  Offer him friendship and fellowship.  Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help.

September 20 – PM          Page 63-64, How It Works, Chapter 5

Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted.  Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us.  Our liquor was but a symptom.  So we had to get down to causes and conditions.