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 The Fifth Step (Step Book), Humility is defined as "a clear recognition of what and who we really are followed by a sincere attempt to become what we could be." To fully understand the breadth of that incisive revelation, I must confront myself in Step Four, reveal myself in Step Five, become willing to relinquish my flawed human nature in Step Six, and fearlessly let go in Step Seven. Throughout that salvific process, I am gifted with the ability to re-design my life in accordance with and under the guidance of The Power Within me. That Power literally provides me with the motivation and energy to become me - for the first time. Age
ReplyDeleteis of no consequence, number of years of alcoholic abuse becomes irrelevant. All that matters, as you point out, is the continuous action of the humbled spirit. When all is said and done, I want to know me, to love me, to be me, and to give myself away.
Michael I feared Humility in the beginning of my life in Alcobolics Anonymous and now I embrace it with the help of God...Thank you...Armand
DeleteBingo! Humility, or lack there of, is the single biggest obstacle not just to my sobriety but to joy in my life. I often guard against the stereotype of the man full of hubristic personality, loud and boastful about his point of view or accomplishments (true or false). But within me, lack of humility also takes the form of my self obsessive thoughts that lead to me quietly building resentments and fears in my life. It ultimately renders me paralyzed in my right thinking and actions. How can we as human beings be humble? After all we are made in the image of God. C.S. Lewis describes humility when he wrote, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, its thinking of yourself less." Read that to yourself a couple times. You don't need to be a dormat to others to be humble. It means because I know who I am, I am comfortable in my own skin and I can focus on the needs of others. Thomas Aquinas is famous for saying that without the virtue of humility, there can be no other virtues. There is no salvation. Its like a house built without a foundation, it will quickly collapse once bad weather pounds against it. What does humility look like, I strongly recommend you taking time and look up the Litany of Humility written by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val. For me it has been the best description of humility because it describes what it looks like in my everyday life.
ReplyDeleteJim Humility is the key that unlocks the door to the grace of God...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteHumility is the direct product of the state of truly accepting and, more importantly, believing that God alone is sovereign in all things, at all times, everywhere.. I 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”. Thus, 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, 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 our 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 completely 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.