“It seems that if Elders can feel that you are open to learning,
they are more than generous with their
teaching." Leonard George
Chief
Councilor They came in and began to give me instruction in the program that
later became known as Alcoholics Anonymous. There was not much of it at
that time. I
looked up and there were two great big fellows over six-foot tall, very
likable looking. (I knew afterwards that the two who came in were Bill W.
and Doctor Bob.) Before very long we began to relate some incidents of our
drinking, and pretty soon I realized that both of them knew what they were
talking about, because you can see things and smell things when you're
drunk that you can't other times. If I had thought they didn't know what
they were talking about, I wouldn't have been willing to talk to them at
all. After a while, Bill said, "Well, now, you've been talking a good
long time, let me talk a minute or two." So, after hearing some more of my
story, he turned around and said to Doc--I don't think he knew I heard
him, but I did--he said, "Well, I believe he's worth saving and
working on." They said to me, "Do you want to quit drinking? It's none of
our business about your drinking. We're not up here trying to take any of
your rights or privileges away from you, but we have a program whereby we
think we can stay sober. Part of that program is that we take it to
someone else who needs it and wants it. Now, if you don't want it, we'll
not take up your time, and we'll be going and looking for someone
else." Big Book pgs. 185 & 186 Grandfather may I recognize the teachers.
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