Page 101 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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80 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Before taking drastic action which might implicate
other people we secure their consent. If we have ob­
tained permission, have consulted with others, asked
God to help and the drastic step is indicated we must
not shrink.
This brings to mind a story about one of our friends.
While drinking, he accepted a sum of money from a
bitterly-hated business rival, giving him no receipt for
it. He subsequently denied having received the money
and used the incident as a basis for discrediting the
man. He thus used his own wrong-doing as a means
of destroying the reputation of another. In fact, his
rival was ruined.
He felt that he had done a wrong he could not pos­
sibly make right. If he opened that old affair, he was
afraid it would destroy the reputation of his partner,
disgrace his family and take away his means of liveli­
hood. What right had he to involve those dependent
upon him? How could he possibly make a public
statement exonerating his rival?
After consulting with his wife and partner he came
to the conclusion that it was better to take those risks
than to stand before his Creator guilty of such ruinous
slander. He saw that he had to place the outcome in
God’s hands or he would soon start drinking again, and
all would be lost anyhow. He attended church for the
first time in many years. After the sermon, he quietly
got up and made an explanation. His action met wide­
spread approval, and today he is one of the most
trusted citizens of his town. This all happened years
ago.
The chances are that we have domestic troubles.
Perhaps we are mixed up with women in a fashion we