November 6
After Someone Speaks
We say that everyone is welcome to raise a concern. Then someone does, and the room cools. There are sighs, a glance at the clock, perhaps a joke about how long the meeting will take. Nobody has forbidden this person to speak. Still, a fairly clear message has been delivered, and everyone else has heard it too. The invitation and the reception do not quite match.
Concept V gives serious attention to hearing minority opinion. The willingness behind that protection matters as much as announcing it. Someone should not have to be unusually brave to tell us something inconvenient. Their concern may prove mistaken; listening does not require surrendering our judgment. But if we want honest communication, we have a part in making honesty bearable. The next person deciding whether to speak is learning from the way we receive this one.
What does my first reaction teach people about bringing me unwelcome news?
A concern can be heard before it is settled.
For the A.A. nerds: Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept V.