October 18
A Report We Can Hear
The person reporting has barely begun before the questions turn sharp. Why that supplier? Why that date? Who said this was acceptable? We may need those answers. Still, the manner of asking can turn an ordinary account into a defense. Soon we are hearing only the safest facts, and wondering why people do not tell us more.
Concept Three joins discretion with proper reporting. Both become harder when a report is treated as an invitation to punish every imperfection. An interested listener can ask searching questions without deciding in advance that something is wrong. That leaves room for a trusted servant to mention uncertainty, a near mistake, or an unexpected difficulty while it is still useful to know. Accountability works better when honesty can survive the conversation. We help make that possible by noticing whether our questions seek understanding or the satisfaction of catching someone out.
What does my manner of asking make easier or harder to tell me?
A difficult fact deserves an attentive hearing.
For the A.A. nerds: Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept III.