I like to think of the Tenth Step of the AA program as a hallway - a hallway that I must walk down in order to come into the room in which I can live with God. This hallway needs daily repair as the ceiling is leaking, there are holes in the walls and the floor is buckled. Fortunately, the program of Alcoholics Anonymous has given us an instructional manual so that we can pass through, although we may be encumbered at first.Another way to look at this is as if God is the light and my human defects are a clouded glass which no light can shine through. As I begin to incorporate the program of AA into my life and begin to develop a relationship with God, some of the glass clears and some of the light shines through. As I continue to incorporate the Twelve Steps into my life, the glass clears even more and even more of the light shines through. Finally, the day arrives when the glass is transparent and all of the light shines through and it is in this moment that I am one with God and free of the manifestation of my character defects.
Incorporate the Tenth Step into your daily existence and, eventually, into all your waking moments. We must be persistent. Persistence is the time between the promise of God and the provision of God. Thereafter, a life free of anxiety, fear and resentment can be experienced; cloaked in harmony, peace and serenity.
Written By Armand
Armand, thanks for sharing,
ReplyDeleteHaving cleared away the wreckage of my past and established a relationship with God through the previous steps, I now discover that I have been propelled into a new dimension. Life is no longer a cold grey prison but a technicolor journey to the Source of Infinite Love. What was once a mystery is now crystal clear. The steps are no longer a mere set of suggestions penned upon a page but a lifestyle destination engraved upon my heart. The Holy Spirit now resides within me. His presence is unmistakable and my conscience, once seared to a whisper is now sensitive to every wayward thought, word and deed.
As I continue to meet God at His mercy seat in Step 10 He lovingly compels me to seek out His way and gently reveals the Source of this conversation as Himself, the Lover of my soul. He expands and refines my 11th step intimacy into a continuous conversation, as moment by moment, I discover that even my most seemingly insignificant daily actions begin to become purified through continuous fervent prayer. As I continue on this journey, the Divine Source of the program, the collective witness of the founders and the True Inspiration of the message is now simply contained in 1 John: 1-9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". It is a miraculously incomprehensible fact that the pure and holy God of all eternity Himself personally reaches out, initiates and finally completes this ongoing process with all who are willing to surrender to Him. To Him be the glory forever and ever, Amen...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic love when you wrote "the Holy Spirit now resides within me." The reason for being of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thank you...Armand
DeleteMichael C.
ReplyDeletePutting Step Ten into action is a matter of keeping an honest eye on myself and my daily behavior. For it is through my behavior that I can measure my spiritual condition. Thus, Step Ten provides an opportunity rather than simply a checkpoint. As I learned in the Big Book program of recovery, my human nature is still a powerful force in my daily existence but it is no match for The Power Within me and within all of us. It is in order to access That Power that I must integrate all Twelve Steps into my life. Within that awareness and presence, my will is subrogated to the Greater Power that exists in me and always has. Living in this very moment is to live in His Will for me. Step Ten enables that focus to be measured and honored in all my thoughts and actions.
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Michael I have said this before. A life in the will of God is a life worth living. Some would say 'an authentic life."...Thank you...Armand
DeleteLove how you say that persistence is the time between the promise of God and the provision of God. A reminder to me that time takes time. It's progress not perfection. The Big Book also makes this point in the Design for Living, pp 86-88, when it says "Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas." But as time goes by, if I am persistent in my program, I am bound to get closer to God and farther away from my ego.
ReplyDeleteDan a day at a time, an hour at a time, a minute at a time...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteThere are still times in my life when I might say something to someone I will regret. Or I may send an email that may hurt someone. Once I speak the words, or hit the "send" button, it's too late. The damage is done. I need to own up to that immediately and do the next right thing, which is to make an amends (whenever possible). If I wait until tomorrow, I only wake up with that emotional hangover, which is the result of my anger or fear which led me down the wrong path.
When I first read Step 10 in the 12 & 12 and came to the paragraph, "It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with me."
It made me crazy. But finally, after working the 10th Step with a sponsor, I understood what it meant.
I am much better off today, but please don't get me wrong. I still make mistakes and get angry at times. At least today, I know what to do about it.
"And when we were wrong, PROMPTLY admitted it".
Sid P