September 23
The Next Person
An unanswered call can occupy a surprising amount of the day. We wonder whether to try again, whether we said the wrong thing, whether a better explanation would have made the difference. Concern is natural. It can also narrow our attention until one person’s response seems to determine whether we have anything useful to give.
The Big Book makes a practical observation: while we keep pursuing someone who is unwilling to work with us, another alcoholic may be waiting for help. Moving our attention does not require deciding that the first person is hopeless. We do not know the rest of their story. We can care about them and remain available to the life happening around us. Prayer may help us leave room for what we cannot see, including the possibility that our next useful conversation will be with someone we have not yet noticed.
Who might I be overlooking while I wait for one particular person to respond?
An unfinished concern need not occupy the whole day.
For the A.A. nerds: Alcoholics Anonymous, “Working With Others,” p. 96.