A recent phone call from the relative of a recovering person made me think about the tremendous scope of influence our twelve step program has achieved. I wonder if Dr. Bob and Bill could ever imagine the widespread acceptance of their twelve steps. They often referred to “the fellowship of the spirit” which included all members of the AA program. Now this fellowship has expanded to over one hundred organizations based on the twelve step model.
We have found that the steps can be applied to many addictions and behavioral problems with successful results. This makes all of us who use the steps as a basis of recovery members of this fellowship of the spirit. We share a common philosophy based on love and service to others. We contribute to the general goodness of the world in which we live. Although the direct result of our program is our individual recovery, we are part of a tremendous movement toward positive change in the world.
It is conservatively estimated that there are six million members of AA worldwide. If we add another five million people working other twelve step programs a conservative estimate of people actively working a twelve step program of recovery would be eleven million people. Experts suggest that every active alcoholic negatively effects ten people; usually family, friends and co-workers. It is logical to assume that when these people become involved in recovery that they now positively effect ten people. So we might say that the scope of influence of the twelve step program extends to over one hundred and ten million people.
One of my fondest memories in this wonderful program is the night I stood holding hands with 50,000 recovering people and their families in The Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. On the field were the flags of one hundred and eighty countries in which AA has a presence. We all recited the Lord’s Prayer at the big meeting for the 50th Anniversary Convention of AA. I still get this feeling when I meet another member of the program inside or outside of the meeting rooms.
It is this common bond that provides the healing power that succeeds when all other temporary remedies fail. It is this program that makes us a part of the world rather than apart from the world. It is this fellowship of the spirit that allows a higher power to work through us to help others. It is this wonderful spiritual philosophy exppressed by us and observed by those in our lives, which cannot help but affect positive change in the world in which we live.