Page 267 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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252 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
indebtedness to, these two wonderful people who are
no longer with us. They made me feel as if I were a
part of their family, and so did their children. The
example that they and Bill W., whose visits to Akron
were fairly frequent, set for me of service to their fellow
men imbued me with a great desire to emulate them.
Sometimes during that year I rebelled inwardly at
what seemed like lost time and at having to be a
burden to these good people whose means were
limited. Long before I had any real opportunity to
give, I had to learn the equally important lesson of
receiving graciously.
During my first few months in Akron, I was quite
sure that I never wanted to see my hometown again.
Too many economic and social problems would beset
me there. I would make a fresh start somewhere else.
After six months of sobriety, I saw the picture in a
different light: Detroit was the place I had to return
to, not only because I must face the mess I had made
there, but because it was there that I could be of the
most service to A.A. In the spring of 1939, Bill stopped
off in Akron on his way to Detroit on business. I
jumped at the suggestion that I accompany him. We
spent two days there together before he returned to
New York. Friends invited me to stay on for as long
as I cared to. I remained with them for three weeks,
using part of the time in making many amends, which
I had had no earlier opportunity of making.
The rest of my time was devoted to A.A. spadework.
I wanted “ripe” prospects, and I didn’t feel that I
would get very far chasing individual drunks in and
out of bars. So I spent much of my time calling on
the people who I felt would logically come in contact