Page 184 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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A VISION FOR YOU 163
one man with this book in your hand. We believe and
hope it contains all you will need to begin.
We know what you are thinking. You are saying to
yourself: “I’m jittery and alone. I couldn’t do that.”
But you can. You forget that you have just now tapped
a source of power much greater than yourself. To
duplicate, with such backing, what we have accom­
plished is only a matter of willingness, patience and
labor.
We know of an A.A. member who was living in a
large community. He had lived there but a few weeks
when he found that the place probably contained
more alcoholics per square mile than any city in the
country. This was only a few days ago at this writing.
(1939) The authorities were much concerned. He got
in touch with a prominent psychiatrist who had under­
taken certain responsibilities for the mental health of
the community. The doctor proved to be able and
exceedingly anxious to adopt any workable method
of handling the situation. So he inquired, what did
our friend have on the ball?
Our friend proceeded to tell him. And with such
good effect that the doctor agreed to a test among his
patients and certain other alcoholics from a clinic
which he attends. Arrangements were also made with
the chief psychiatrist of a large public hospital to
select still others from the stream of misery which
flows through that institution.
So our fellow worker will soon have friends galore.
Some of them may sink and perhaps never get up, but
if our experience is a criterion, more than half of those
approached will become fellows of Alcoholics Anony­
mous. When a few men in this city have found them­