Free to Forgive

Step We Are On: Four

Page: 66

Chapter: 5 "How It Works"

Subject: Resentment Inventory, forgiveness, anger

Good morning. We are going through the columns of the 4^th step directions

• What do we give up by replaying our resentments?

For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit.

• What happens then?

The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again.

• Does the alcoholic quit drinking then?

And with us, to drink is to die.

• If we are going to live, what must happen?

If we were to live, we had to be free of anger.

The Big Book co-authors demonstrated their understanding of the spiritual Principle of forgiveness when they said, “If we were to live, we had to be free of anger” implying that 'managing anger' (the standard secular advice you’ll get) is not the answer - but freedom from anger is; and unless we develop resilience to resentment, we will die.

• Is thinking about the way we can get even OK for alcoholics?

The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us.

Brainstorm - an outburst of passion or agitation so violent as temporarily to deprive one of reason. The Winston Simplified Dictionary – 1938

Grouch - a fit of temper. The Winston Simplified Dictionary – 1938

Peace and  Love,

Danny S – RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

http://stepelevencomesalive.blogspot.com/