The program of Alcoholics Anonymous has in place the fabric necessary to weave through and heal our character defects - whether they surface in our daily or our spot check inventories. If and when necessary we use the Ninth Step which is, "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others." If we decide that an amend is necessary we immediately make it in an effort to live in the present. Only in the present can we be in the will of God, where His grace saves us from creating another past which we will need to extricate ourselves from. Once performed, we thread into the necessary fabric The Seventh Step, "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." If our actions cause us to have any shame or guilt, we then use the Fifth Step of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, "Admitted to God, to ourselves and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs" so that we may be living in the present with a clean slate and a serene mind.
If we are willing to take our inventories, make our amends, ask God to remove our defects, and share our wrongs with ourselves, God and another human being there will be NO NEED TO CREATE A PAST. We will have the freedom to exist in the present - in the will of God.
As alcoholics we have worked hard to free ourselves from our past. If we are willing to weave the program of Alcoholics Anonymous into our lives in such a way that it becomes our life than the creation of a past that, at least subconsciously, is having a negative effect on our present consciousness, will not occur. This is a critical tool in permanent recovery.
Having long been miraculously delivered from a self imposed prison of misdirected survival skills that found me at the precipice of an ignominious death, my bow has now been broken and the bent and featherless arrows that once filled my quiver are now willingly abandoned. Yet, even as I passed the pen to the Master Planner the move from prisoner to pilgrim is not always without struggle. Life is not a consistent encounter with rainbows, pixie-dust and unicorns. I still must contend with the ever-present seductions of the world and although now graciously subdued, the ever present calling of the appetites of my flesh. But throughout every encounter His grace abounds. This new life is no longer totally dependent upon me. The eternal struggle is no longer encountered alone and the mystery for managing the transition has now been laid before me with a simple clarity that only comes through an ever expanding relationship with the only true source of Power, Light and Love.
ReplyDeleteThat divine gift of willingness, that first "grain of a mustard seed of faith," spoken of in Matthew 19-20; is no longer light years away but now grows by every encounter with life's former problems and perplexities into a deep and abiding faith. They become desired gifts from above as they reveal the only true touchstones of faith, love and compassion that grows an unyielding devotion to the Author and Finisher of this new journey into the unspeakable and eternal richness of the mind and plan of God.
The Author provides the Holy Spirit who now resides within me. He reminds me of the simple steps that first brought me to this place. He teaches that truth without love is pride and that love without truth is mere sentimentality. That the purpose of life and all of His creation is an eternal relationship by, with and through Him. When all around seems vexed and troubled. When confusion and conflict abound. He compels the surrender of every encounter within life's lesson plan and gently reminds it has been lovingly written into eternity, just for me, as I continue to discover Him as He truly is. Jesus is the touchstone to create a new and sanctified past that bears witness not only to the victory over sin and self, but an unmistakable legacy of service and love.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic awesome comment...Happy New Year...Armand
DeleteTo live in this moment and thereby abandon the motivations and actions of the dreadful past requires precisely what you've iterated. We must integrate The Twelve Steps into our lives in such a way that they become our lives. The New Life, as characterized by a Twelfth Step spiritual awakening, makes no demands of us except that we give away that which we've been so freely gifted. In that salvific process, we can remain in the moment and allow The Power Within us to guide us to the ever-deepening love of ourselves and of one another.
ReplyDeleteMichael Awesome comment...Happy New Year...Armand
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. I strive to live more in the present, not staring at the past that I cannot change and to move forward with belief and trust in God, incorporating the steps as a way of life. To be able to promptly admit when I am wrong and have God guide and direct my thinking.
ReplyDeleteI am humbly asking God to remove my defects of character. My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good & bad. I pray that you now remove every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength as I go out to do your bidding. Amen.
I hope to be of maximum service to God and others and to see how my experience can benefit others. I have decided to go to any length to find a spiritual experience and I ask God to please give me strength and direction to do the next right thing one day at a time. ����