August 10
Nobody Mentioned It
The meeting went smoothly because we handled a problem beforehand. Nobody knows there was a problem, so nobody thanks us. We are pleased that things worked and faintly irritated that our part has vanished from view. Then we consider mentioning how close the evening came to disaster. A useful contribution is about to become a story designed to establish our importance.
Wanting appreciation does not cancel the good we did. It does give us something honest to bring to prayer or a trusted friend. Step Twelve speaks of giving without attaching a price, and praise can become a quiet price we expect others to discover. The service already had an effect: people were able to meet. We can let that matter while admitting that our motives are still mixed. There is no need to pretend we have outgrown the wish to be noticed.
What acknowledgment have I quietly made part of the payment for my service?
The work mattered before anyone knew who did it.
For the A.A. nerds: Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step Twelve, pp. 106, 109.