As we work through the Fourth Step we may get the sense that the completed program of Alcoholics Anonymous will allow us, possibly for the first time, to be living our lives as God originally intended us to - free of the manifestation in our behavior of resentment, fear and anxiety. We will then become the human beings God created us to be and we will maximize our human potential, as the manifestation of our human nature is perfected in the will of God.
Written by Armand
Harry Emerson Fosdick, a New York pastor and friend of Bill Wilson's, reviewed The Big Book before it was first printed in 1939. One of his greatest comments was that "self-confrontation is the beginning of a meaningful life." I found that to be absolutely true in taking Step Four, and in looking squarely at that which I had been avoiding my whole life - me. What prevented my spirit from being alive was the odious blockage within me that was driven by a hundred forms of fear and false pride. How could I fearlessly look at the me I feared? Two recovery necessities intervened in my life. First, I loathed what I had become and wanted an end to that pain. But, far more importantly, down-deep inside me lay "the fundamental idea of God" that we learn about on page 55 of The Big Book. Something quiet, something basic, something true existed within me which The Fourth Step brought to the Light. For the first time in my life, I sensed, I felt, I was certain of The Power Within me. But how and where to access That Power became the question. The answer, for me, was in incorporating The Steps into my life until they became the basis for living my life. In and through that process, I developed a personal relationship with The Power Within and my life took on real true purpose. Today, years later, my life is full and rich. I can continue to look at me and to love me in a manner sufficient enough that I'm able to give myself away - my greatest Gift. Transformative, meaningful, miraculous freedom.The freedom of a Happy, joyous and free existence.
ReplyDeleteMichael nothing to add to that. Well said my friend...thank you...Armand
DeleteTo me, filling out the columns in each category of the 4th step was powerful. It was great information. But the real power came from my sponsor who coached and encouraged me every step of the process. That is where I received the wisdom of the 4th step,through that one on one relationship. I can't imagine a impactful 5th step without a sponsor taking the time with his questions, attention and insight. It takes more than just a fast car, you need a driver who knows the road.
ReplyDeletejim a glowing tribute to the impact a recovered sponsor, in this case our friend Nick, can have...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteSo true Armand at this point of the program we get to seek clarity on what has been blocking us off from living a good and sober life. We see the light go on in people's eyes as the inspiration comes to enable us to list the names institutions fears resentments and what was our side of the street. To look at this in black and white for the first time through Gods guidance is so valuable tho people do balk at this step for one reason or another and miss out on the recovery that it brings. I am grateful that I did this step and shared it with someone else as it was the path to freedom.
ReplyDeleteAnne love when you wrote "to look at it in black and white through God's guidance."...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThis Comment Is From A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
ReplyDeleteArmand,
For this gratefully recovering alcoholic the purpose of step 4 was to clearly identify my true moral state without the cloak or excuse of alcohol or any other drug of choice. Needless to say it wasn't pretty; wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and last but not least, gluttony were the undeniable motive force behind my every thought, word and deed.
I had to identify my life to this point as being the very essence of a reprobate mind immersed in total self-worship and fear. Now I discover that with or without the aid of intoxicants I justified my excesses with nonsensical arguments that could only have been birthed in the dark dank cellar of a self-deluded mind. Having discovered the true depth of my moral bankruptcy and that alcohol was not, and is not the motive force behind my debased core behaviors but merely an accelerant I was ready to take Step 5...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
a Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic thank you for sharing your experience...Armand
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