An Action Toward Being Responsible

Dear Reader, 

Recently, I’ve been challenged both emotionally and physically by an event I had little control over. Someone I worked closely with—and considered a friend—has passed away. In the wake of his death, I’ve volunteered to help others transition many of his duties in our recovery office and bookstore. I chose to do this out of respect for him and because, as treasurer of the organization, I felt both the need and the call to step forward. 

You might ask, so what is the problem? 

The challenge lies in realizing the true weight of responsibility: keeping daily operations running, locating missing financial and business records, and rebuilding relationships with suppliers and partners. Responsibility, I’ve learned, is not just about getting things done—it’s about how we carry the trust that others have placed in us. 

In moments like this, I ask myself: What does it mean to be responsible? 

In my recovery program, I often return to the AA Responsibility Statement: 

“I am responsible. 
When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, 
I want the hand of AA always to be there. 
And for that: I am responsible.” 

These simple words remind me that responsibility begins in the heart before it ever becomes an action. 

Oprah Winfrey once said: 

“You are responsible for your life. You can't keep blaming somebody else for your dysfunction. Life is really about moving on.” 

For me, recovery and faith both offer light for the same path. 

• In recovery, I take inventory of my duties and acknowledge where I can act. 

• In faith, I turn to God and Christ for the strength and wisdom to carry them out. 

When I do this, I find peace in knowing that even amid sleepless nights, frustration, or fear of inadequacy, responsibility can become an act of love—an offering of service, gratitude, and faith in motion. 

Amen. 

Closing Reflection 

Responsibility isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. 
It means standing where you’re needed, doing what you can, and trusting that God will meet you in the effort. 
Each task, no matter how small, becomes sacred when done in the spirit of service. 

Supporting Wisdom 

• “For of him unto whom much is given much is required.” — Luke 12:48 

• “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” — Mosiah 2:17 

• “Act well your part; therein lies the honor.” — President David O. McKay 

• “Let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.” — Doctrine and Covenants 107:99 

• “It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” — Molière