There has been much written in recent decades about the impact of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step programs on America and the world. Much of this material focuses on the recovery that Program offers from addiction. Some of it -- but not much -- turns its attention to the "spiritual side" of the 12-Step fellowships. Virtually none of it looks at the last three Steps of those programs as both their goal and the realization of that goal.

The reason is probably that most practitioners of Program don't look at the last three Steps in that light either. They are frequently referred to as "the maintenance steps," as though they form a suitable summary of the first nine Steps which we can practice -- presumably in relative comfort -- for the rest of our recovered lives.

By contrast, Steps 10, 11 and 12 can be regarded as Program's greatest gift to the world. Sure, the recovery from alcoholism, over-eating, or whatever other addiction we may suffer from is significant. But surely no one would maintain that recovery from addiction was her purpose in life. She would probably sooner say that recovery from addiction was a necessary preliminary to attaining her purpose in life. And that purpose is the practice of the last three Steps -- not for any "reason," but simply for their own sake.