Concept 4: "The right of participation..."

This concept means to me that it is important for those involved within the OA meeting (be it a board meeting, assembly, etc.)be involved in the decisions made. It is hard to be a part of something when someone else makes the decisions for you. For instance, at home I am usually the one delegated to make the ultimate decision as to what is for supper. I could always have my favorites, but then others wouldn't be real happy with me. I don't care for spicy foods and my hubby and son lofe them.

So, if I were to go with just my desires, there would never be any spicy foods. However, since I know that they both love spice foods, I sometimes attempt to buy of get from a special store the foods that they love. This I do mainly because I love and respect both of them... but it could also be because I consider them an equal.
For this concept, if I were to go to a meeting and say, "Everyone, we are going to do this my way and you will have to deal with it or get out," I probably would would see a few empty chairs real quick! I have to remember that we are all equals... we each have the same problem. God didn't make me any more special than He did you! None of us are God's junky leftovers. He made us each in a very special loving way. So... today I need to remember Who's child I am!
God is in control!

Till next time.... Hugs. CD

Concept 3 " The right of decision..."

"The right of decision based on trust makes effective leadership possible."

How many of us trusted anyone when we came into our first OA meeting? I know I didn't trust many people, and those that I did, I had a close eye on watching to be sure that they didn't stab me again in the back. It seemed like I could never trust anyone again. Now, here in concept 3 we are asked to trust... or another good word for it could be to have faith in (Sound familiar??). We are asked to let go of the control reigns and let HP and the person we have delegated to do the job, do it. No longer are we to step in and oversee.

In our OA meetings as well as the business end of OA, we are asked to choose someone to lead and make decisions for our groups at World Service Office (WSO). We have looked at their qualifications and feel that they can do the job well. Once we have given them the job, we must trust them to do it with our full trust. I am reminded of times that various family members would give me jobs to do then stand over top of me while I did them, telling me every second how I was doing it wrong. There was NO trust in that. We MUST trust those we have given leadership positions. A good leader has to possess that. Don't discourage your leader... build them up! Till next time... cd

Concept 1 "Ultimate responsibility and authority..."

"The ultimate responsibility and authority for OA world service resides in the collective conscience of the whole Fellowship.”

Have you ever been given the responsibility to do something without being given the authority to go buy the items you needed to accomplish the task? I have. It isn’t easy to take on a job and not have the authority to fulfill it. OA has a business side that needs run on a daily basis. During that day, many decisions have to be made… sometimes within a moment’s notice. For instance, what do they put in the Lifeline and what do they reject? If they were to stop and ask all OA’ers the answer to that before doing the Lifeline… we would never have one! OA has a way of listening to all of their members voices. It is found by listening to the group representatives at Intergroup meetings, by listening to Trustee’s when they go to the World Business Conference Meeting annually, and by many other ways I am not even aware of. Aren’t you glad that they are listening to us? I am!