The basis of all 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is humility, the spirit of which is necessary in keeping our egos deflated. Admitting to our innermost self that we are alcoholic, learning to trust in God, and making a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God are all steps on the road to humility. In the Fourth Step, identifying who we are and acceptance of what that means is both ego-deflating and humbling. As for myself, the most paramount of steps in which I accepted humility was the 5th Step, during which I shared my 4th Step - the deepest, darkest side of myself - with myself, God and another human being.In the 7th Step we offer all of ourselves, the good and the bad, to God - to do with us as He would do so that our human character defects do not manifest themselves in our behavior. Another step in which humility occurs is the 9th Step,as we go out and make our amends, reconciling the wrongs we have done in the past. And finally the 11th Step, in which recovered alcoholics reside, praying only for the knowledge of God's will and the power to carry that out. All of these steps can only be performed and will only be successfully taken with a humbled spirit.
Humility unlocks the door to the Grace of God. Only through such a humbled spirit may we recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body - making humility absolutely necessary.
Written by Armand
In doing The Fifth Step, I learned that humility is a genuine look at who I am today with an honest desire to become the person I was born to be. Understanding that completely changed the stakes for me. The yearning to escape my defective human nature, and to have my spirit awakened as a result became the gift beyond anything my mind could ever conjure or create. But I had to incorporate all Twelve Steps into my life in a way that they became my life. The Steps led me to The Power Within me Who enabled me to experience a new level of consciousness and being. Humility no longer means a forced feeding of humble pie. Instead, it means that I can walk the earth as my own man powered by the awakened spirit of recovery. That is the penultimate gift. The ultimate gift is to give it all away.
ReplyDeleteMichael humility is the key that unlocks the door to the grace of God...Thank you so much....Armand
ReplyDeleteThis Comment Is From A gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
ReplyDeleteI have discovered that anything less than the "complete surrender" of ourselves, that is, mind, body and spirit to the Person of God in the 4th and 5th steps will leave us still living the delusion that we continue to somehow possess the leverage to negotiate the terms and conditions of our "recovery" allowing us to carry on with our lives as though alcohol or any other substance abuse issue was our only problem and were it not for that "daemon rum" life would be just dandy. However, much like a marriage, the purpose of executing these steps in the presence of either an AA sponsor or other spiritual advisor is to have a temporal witness to this deeply humbling spiritual commitment. It is the complete surrender to God in the presence of another that makes the "talk" a "walk" and propels us through the birth pains of a new, right and eternal relationship between God, ourselves and all of His creation...
As long as this alcoholic entertains any thought or imagining that God desires that I continue to direct life's tour would easily come under the definition of insanity and the basic foundation of the mental meanderings of a megalomaniac. It reminds me of the bumper stickers I've seen that say "God is my Co-Pilot". I want to run to the driver and fervently encourage them to pry their fingers off the "wheel" and quickly "swap seats", for although that type of thinking provides a form of "spiritual" walk it completely lacks the Power of the Author and Finisher of the journey as we now mistakenly begin to rely upon Him to accomplish our will with His power. A desperately destructive arrangement until we finally place the keys of our lives into His perfectly capable hands.
Simply put, This alcoholic is incapable of self-generating the actions that lead to the serenity spoken of in the Big Book. Never could, never will. The serenity that is a product of true humility is a gift of God only given when we "humble themselves and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, For then His eyes shall be open and His ears attentive to the prayers of this place." And thus, He says, "I shall grant you a time of refreshment". That, my brother, is serenity.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic nothing to say but "well said'...Thank you...Armand
DeleteHumbly asked him to remove our shortcomings-complete defeat knowing that they didn't work any more. It's the opposite of ego which propels me against Gods will in Edging God Out. Humility in step 7, willingness in step 8, admitted to God in step 5, sought in step 11. All these steps bring me closer to finding out what Gods will is for me. Unless I have enough humility to ask for help I am living in self will and cannot be of maximum service to others. Simple but not easy but definitely worth working the steps.
ReplyDeleteAnne love what you wrote. Yes incorporate the Steps of AA into your life in such a way that they become your life and you will know Humility...Thank you...Armand
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