In The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions it is written: "A continuous look at our assets and liabilities, and a real desire to learn and grow by this means, are necessities for us. We alcoholics have learned this the hard way. More experienced people, of course, in all times and places have practiced unsparing self-survey and criticism. For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching becomes a regular habit, until he is able to ADMIT and ACCEPT what he finds, and until he patiently and persistently tries to correct what is wrong.
Through daily inventory we can admit and accept that our character defects are a part of our human nature, a part that cannot manifest if we are truly living in the will of God. We are completely capable of understanding, if the proper work on the 12 steps is thoroughly done, that our human nature is in fact defected. We must accept this about ourselves if we desire to be recovered.
In the program of Alcoholics Anonymous it is often said, "Let go and let God." The "Let go" part is turning from the incessant prompts of our human nature and the "Let God" part is living in, and thereby manifesting, the will of God. Living in the raw-natured will of God, our character defects cannot be manifested in our behavior - it is in such a spiritual place that our nature can be perfected as we become the human being that God created us to be.
Self-survey is a most powerful tool of recovery.
This Comment Is from A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
ReplyDeleteArmand,
Having received complete forgiveness at the feet of the Father of Light through Steps 4 and 5 we are now given the incredible opportunity to become a partaker of the infinite mercy and love that God has, not just for us, but for all of his creation. We ponder the gateway found in the Lords Prayer " And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others who have trespassed against us."
We have made a decision to identify and relinquish the primitive survivor skills that we once believed were absolutely necessary to sustain our existence. It is here that we rediscover deeply held resentments we have used in the past as justification for our malignant attitudes and actions which must be rooted up and exposed to the continuous cleansing power of Gods Light and Love. As we prayerfully continue to review our past encounters we come to understand that many with whom we hold a grudge were merely acting in kind in order to avoid their own desperately fearful demise.
We can now begin to experience true empathy and forgiveness towards those once perceived to be our "enemy" and as we separate their desperate actions from their wounded personhood we can now pray rightly for them to receive the freedom and peace of an eternal relationship with our, and their, loving Father. Now we become partakers in the ministry of healing that God would provide to others as He seeks to heal the last scars that we, in our selfishness, had carved into the fragile spirits of so many lives. It is in forgiving others as we have been forgiven where we truly begin to apprehend the fullness, depth and all encompassing expanse of God's personnel forgiveness of our sins. It is here that we can begin share that all forgiving love with others.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic When I am living in the will of God with my human nature surrendered in that moment, the ability to be in forgiveness is simply the outpouring of the love of God from within...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThe one thing I had in life was me, and it was, also, the one thing I not-so-skillfully avoided looking at or into. In place of self-examination, I poured alcohol and, in the process, further distanced myself from myself and from The Power Within me. Since character defects represented the compendium of my human nature, it was my nature where both the problem and the opportunity to change existed. In AA, I found that by incorporating all Twelve Steps into my life until they became my life, I could change my life. From self-driven to divinely-inspired by the presence of The Power Within me and in that Presence relinquishing my human nature in this very moment. Truth is I really can't change myself but myself can be changed by a transition of natures from human to divine. Your post and the many that precede and follow explain that transition in precise terms. For which I am forever grateful.
ReplyDeleteMichael thank you for your kindness to me. Love when you wrote "from self=driven to divinely inspired." The power of God through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thanks...Armand
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