Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

Isn’t it fitting that the 4^th step acknowledgement occurs in the month of “April Showers Bring May Flowers?” In the month of the most significant religious holidays on the calendar?  Are we not cleansing ourselves of the dust of our dark pasts to awaken to the promise of a new life? Gardeners know the significance of tilling the soil, planting the seeds, and watering the tender seedlings that will become strong beautiful blooms, ready for pollination and growth. Is this not the soul purpose of the 4^th step? Isn’t this exciting? Indeed it is!

It is no coincidence that the first line of the 4^th step explanation begins; “Creation gave us instincts for a purpose….” However, our alcoholic brains dominated those instincts, wreaking havoc on our development and turning many of our instincts into liabilities. Haven’t we often wondered in the beginning of our sober journeys, “How did I get HERE?” “Where did I go wrong?” We are not alone…. thus the need for a searching and fearless inventory of ourselves.

Our sober forefathers were so masterful in the development and order of the steps. Without admitting powerlessness, believing a higher power would help us, and turning our will over to the care of that power, none of us would have the willingness, openness or honesty to embark on such a soulful journey. Without rigorous honesty, a searching and fearless moral inventory would not be possible; nor the beautiful sober life it pollinates.

So, with pen in hand, and an open honest mind, be fearless….and searching….and let it rain baby! Watch yourself grow!

With Love,
Beth S

Tradition Four — Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. When A.A.’s Traditions were first published, in 1946, we had become sure that an A.A. group could stand almost any amount of battering. We saw that the group, exactly like the individual, must eventually conform to whatever tested principles would guarantee survival. We had discovered that there was perfect safety in the process of trial and error. So confident of this had we become that the original statement of A.A. tradition carried this significant sentence: “Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that as a group they have no other affiliation.” — Reprinted from The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 147, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Concept Four — Throughout our Conference structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional “Right of Participation,” taking care that each classification or group of our world servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge. The “Right of Participation” is therefore a corrective of ultimate authority because it mitigates its harshness or misuse. It also encourages us who serve A.A. to accept the necessary disciplines that our several tasks require. We can do this when we are sure that we belong, when the fact of our “participation” assures us that we are truly the “trusted servants” described in A.A.’s Tradition Two. — Reprinted from The A.A. Service Manual Combined with the Twelve Concepts, p. C15, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

What each attendee can expect to do:

• Take part in the Thursday night party, flag ceremony, stadium meetings and the Saturday night Old-Timers Meeting.
• Over 20+ hospitality suites, collecting pins and how some people bring to share and trade
• More than 250 meetings to choose from, including clergy panels, international and, of course, A.A. topic related.

And there is much more! For more information about the Convention, please visit: https://www.aa.org/international-convention

APRIL EVENTS  – COME JOIN US!

RULE 62

Don’t Take Yourself Too Darn Seriously: Rules are intended to set standards for behavior. “Rule 62” is intended to encourage having fun and enjoying sober living.  Have a fun story or joke related to your sober life?  Please share it with us! support@sussexaa.org

WANT TO PARTICIPATE?

We would love to hear from you! We’re always interested in receiving short articles and experiences written by our A.A. members for possible publication. All submissions are subject to review and editing. Send submissions to support@sussexaa.org.

• How you worked a specific step.
• A favorite A.A. slogan and how it has helped you.
• How you got your first service position.
• Something your sponsor said that impacted you.

Southern Delaware Intergroup Monthly Meeting — Join us on Thursday, March 6^th at 6 pm via Zoom. Meeting ID: 987-8110-5001, Passcode: 914711. Our intergroup is a resource for 12-Step work and Alcoholics Anonymous information in Southern Delaware. Please consider volunteering for a service opportunity, which includes most Intergroup committees. For more information about what each Committee does, see our Service Committees page and plan to attend our next intergroup meeting.

Bash At The Beach!  Sunday September 14, 2025

Want to help make the Bash a smash?  Seeking volunteers to join the Bash crew in all areas: Food, drinks, entertainment, parking, audio and more.  Please email us at support@sussexaa.org to be part of the hottest ticket at the beach this summer!

DID YOU KNOW????    DISTRICT 14

Did you know??? There is an online district!  District 14 is exclusively online! Isn’t that cool? Want to learn more? Join us the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm via Zoom!  (See calendar at https://sussexaa.org/events/)

FIELD TRIP ANYONE??