"The Creator told every one of us in our tribal beginnings to look after our ceremonies, and each other."

Barney Bush  Shawnee

The unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished quality our society has. Our lives, the lives of all to come, depend squarely upon it. We stay whole, or A.A. dies. Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; our world arteries would no longer carry the life-giving grace of God; His gift to us would be spent aimlessly. Back again in their caves, alcoholics would reproach us and say, “What a great thing A.A. might have been.”

Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions  pg. 129

Where does A.A. get its direction? Who runs it? This, too, is a puzzler for every friend and newcomer. When told that our Society has no president having authority to govern it, no treasurer who can compel the payment of any dues, no board of directors who can cast an erring member into outer darkness, when indeed no A.A. can give another a directive and enforce obedience, our friends gasp and exclaim, "This simply can't be. There must be an angle somewhere." These practical folk then read Tradition Two, and learn the sole authority in A.A. is a loving God as He may express Himself in the group conscience.

 Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions  pg. 132

Great Mystery, thank you for giving us the ceremonies.