“Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”

--Saint Augustine Contributed by DMJ 11.19.07

Joe McQuany died today at 3:30 October 29 2007, in Little Rock, AR. He was the original Joe of the Charlie & Joe Big Book Studies.

History of Joe &Charlie Big Book Studies:
Joe McQ. and Charlie P. met in 1973 when Joe introduced Charlie as the AA speaker at an Al-Anon Convention. Joe had wondered if Charlie might be the country-western singer Charlie Pride. "He wasn't even the right color," Joe laments. They instantly discovered their mutual fascination with AA's basic text "The Big Book".

What interested them most was that The Big Book was written in a particular sequence to convey certain ideas. That interest began a close friendship which has lasted to this day. They would frequently meet to discuss the book, often driving 225 miles to meet in each other's homes. Soon they were planning meetings in hotel rooms at AA conventions in Oklahoma and Arkansas, and within a few years, the meetings grew in popularity. In 1977, some members met in a Tulsa, OK hotel room for a discussion of the Big Book. One asked Joe and Charlie to come to his home group to present a program on the book. An AA taper made a four tape set of their presentation and called it "The Big Book Study".

The tapes were gradually circulated throughout the fellowship and invitations were received for Joe and Charlie to present the study at AA conventions, roundups and special events. By 1980, there had been about eight studies offered. At the 1980 International AA Convention in New Orleans, Westly P. an impassioned Big Booker from Pompano Beach, FL, organized a lunch for 1,500 AAs from all over the world and gave away 100 Joe and Charlie tape sets as door prizes. Invitations exploded and within a couple of years, Joe and Charlie were presenting about 36 studies a year worldwide.

Obviously, the seminars struck a deep chord within AA members...for the reaffirmation of "this message" as written in April 1939 with the publication of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. Studies have been given in 48 states and most Canadian provinces. Additionally, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands have all hosted the Big Book Study seminars with Joe and Charlie. The original Joe McQ. has had to curtail his travels in recent years. Oddly enough, another Joe McC., active in the study group since the beginning, has been able to pick up the slack. "Where God guides, God provides," as some members say.

All this growth has not come without a measure of turbulence. What spiritual journey does not encounter obstacles? Some fellow AAs have termed the duo, "self-appointed gurus". Others have accused them of making money on these weekends. Actually, only travel expenses, meals and lodging are paid for by the independent AA host committee sponsoring the study. This is in accordance with the AA Guidlines for Conferences and Conventions (MG4), published by the General Service Office. Since 1977, an estimated 200,000 AA Members have experienced the spiritual benefits of these collective studies.

-- 11-05-07 Contributed by Sophie

God, keep me from the habit of thinking that I must volunteer in every meeting no matter what the topic. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details and give me wings to get to the point. Remind me to guard confidences and to keep still when I feel that it is necessary to share information "just for someone's own good." Release me from the need to straighten out everybody else's thinking and program.

God, I ask for the grace to listen to newcomers. Please help me to remember the patience with which others listened to me when I was new. Please seal my lips to giving advice, and help me to remember to share my experience, strength, and hope. Remind me that my purpose is to fit myself to be of maximum service to You and the people around me --- not just other alcoholics.

Help me to remain teachable, God. Teach me (again!) the lesson that, occasionally, it is possible that I may be wrong and remind me of the freedom that I gain when I am able to promptly admit it and make amends where necessary. Help me to remember the difference between making amends and saying I'm sorry.

Help me to be a worker among workers, a friend among friends, and a drunk among drunks. Keep me from being a bleeding deacon, God, and help me to walk the path towards being an elder statesman. Keep me ever mindful that I cannot manage my own life. I don't want to be a saint, God, show me the way to seek You so that I may continue to grow along spiritual lines. Remind me to put Rule #62 into practice in my life every day. It is so easy to take myself too seriously.

Keep me free of gossip, character assassination, and judgment. Remind me that although I have humbly asked, my character defects and shortcomings arise when I least expect them. Help me to walk with serendipity, to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people and give me the grace to tell them so. Help me to
see that You love each of Your children, and that You do not need my opinion of them or suggestions on what they might deserve.

Help me to be willing to accept Your answer to my prayers, whether or not it is the answer that I thought I wanted. You know that I have trouble with acceptance sometimes, God, so there are times when You will need to help me to be willing to be willing. Show me how to walk through life with grace, dignity, and my head held high, carrying Your message and practicing these principles in all my affairs.

And God, thank You for the people that You have put in my life. My family, of origin, and of AA. My sponsor, my sponsees, my sister sponsees, the people of my home group, the women who first reached out their hands to welcome me to the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the people in the world around me (i.e., my colleagues, my neighbors, the other drivers on the freeway). I know today, God, that I could not have walked these steps to get from where I was when I walked in the door to the woman that I am today, if it were not for the blessings You have given me through Your precious children.

Help me to remember to be grateful today, God. For what I've been given, what has been taken, and for what I have left. For people who love me and don't even have to, and those that I love. Thank you for an amazing life God --- I never could have imagined I would be so blessed.

Thank you, God.

-- 11-05-07 Contributed by Sophie

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is like expecting the bull not to charge you because you are a vegetarian.

-- Rabbi Harold Kushner 8.07.06 Contributed by dmj

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

-Unknown. 7.31.06 Contributed by Thom K.

Meditation is simply being silent. Not reading. Not listening. My Higher Power is existent in this moment. Nothing Else. I need know nothing else. It starts right at this moment. -Francis H. 2.8.06

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength." August Wilson
-contributed by Terry A. 2.24.06

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be Kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be Honest and Frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be Happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do Good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

-- Mother Teresa
Contributed by Edward M.

Dance as though no one is watching you,
Love as though you have never been hurt before,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though heaven is on earth. 

-- unknown