As I began the fourth step of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous I faced the four column inventory of my resentments, my fears and my sexual conduct. My sponsor suggested that I begin TO PRAY FOR AND FORGIVE all of those on all of my lists. In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous there is a prayer for each of these lists - three prayers in total.
The Eighth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous, "Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all" is yet ANOTHER CHANCE to pray for and forgive all those on my lists and to begin doing the same with any new situations that may arise. We are already in possession of an Eighth Step list - extracted from our Fourth Step inventory. As we begin to pray for and forgive we are also indeed making a beginning on Steps Eleven and Twelve.
Prayer and forgiveness are essential tools if we are to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body We learned in the Fourth Step that resentments toward others is the number one offender to a relationship with God, as we are called to love all, although we are never to be accepting of evil.
The Eighth Step provides for us ANOTHER CHANCE TO PRAY FOR AND TO FORGIVE all those on our lists. This is necessary in order to bring the Spirit into our Ninth Step amends,
Both The Eighth Step and The Ninth provide me with the opportunity to both give and receive The Gift of Myself. In no way can I prepare for life in this moment if I am unclean regarding the past. Thus, I must be unsparing in my relationship survey. It has been my experience that by doing so, what appear to be minor relationship difficulties can produce unexpectedly clear insights into the limitations of my human nature. Prayer, for me, can take shape in a variety of ways. But forgiveness is the same across the board. It must be honest, thorough, fully expressed and final. My intention is not to re-create the past. That means getting right with all those I've injured, no matter how slightly, in order to get right with myself as I'm guided to the realm of the spirit by The Power Within me
ReplyDeleteMichael all amends must be made and all must be forgiven if we are to be free of self...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThere are no coincidences. I did a ninth step this afternoon to a business associate who I was in a conflict. I ran into him at the airport. I behaved poorly toward him and was ashamed of it. The freedom I received as a result from my apology is amazing. I am not sure if he forgave me or not, but that is not what I was shooting for. It was important that I did not mention his bad behavior or gave excuses for my actions which harmed him. Thank you for keeping this blog going as I travel through this world.
ReplyDeleteJim congrats. Keep up the good work...Thank you...Armand
DeleteI wrote an inventory in step 4 and shared it with my sponsor and God in step 5 and was told that self centered fear was the basis of it all. During step 5 my sponsor discussed and helped me identify the people I needed to make amends to. In working step 10 I also am able to do the same thing today and admit promptly where I am wrong. I have to watch for where I am selfish dishonest self seeking and frightened and make amends when needed. It’s a way of life today.
ReplyDeleteAnne the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous releases us from our past so that we may live in the present in the will of God. Your experience shows that the apparatus to deal with our defects and to live in the present are available to us each and every minute...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteHaving 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 used as justification for misplaced 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 perceived fearful demise.
As we continue to plumb the depths of Step Eight we soon 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 that 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 to share that all forgiving love with others, except when to so would cause them harm.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic Thanks so much as your wonderful comment shows us why the Steps are to be worked in order...Thank you...Armand
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