Page: 73
Chapter: 6 “Into Action”
Subject: Discussing ourselves with another person
Good morning. Now that we have taken Steps Three and Four and have decided to put the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous to the test, we are ready to go into action.
- Where the rest of the Steps enough to save them?
Having persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell.
- What do we think the reason is?
We think the reason is that they never completed their housecleaning.
You cannot admit the exact nature of your wrongs to another human being if you haven't discovered and admitted them first to yourself (and God).
- Even though they made an attempt at Step Four, had some items been swept under the rug? Which ones?
They took inventory all right, but hung on to some of the worst items in stock.
- Did they mislead themselves?
They only thought they had lost their egoism and fear; they only thought they had humbled themselves.
Many a protegee has written an inventory, had their 5th step, and walked away feeling cocky and self-assured for the self-esteem boost provided through a misinformed sponsor.
- What had they not learned?
But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary
- What do they need to do?
until they told someone else all their life story
This does not mean a recital of one's autobiography from birth to present in a tearful marathon of misery. When we admit to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs, that is our life story. Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase, "The story of my life!" uttered by someone in jest over an unpleasant revelation about themselves.
If a 5th step is taking longer than an hour for a man, maybe two for a gal . . . .
. . . then something else is taking please beside an admission of the exact nature of the protege's wrongs. Perhaps that discussion is appropriate to have, perhaps it is called for, ONE DAY.
But it is NOT part of a Fifth Step.
In 1938,
Nature – original or essential qualities, inborn character; personal or individual character.
Wrong - N. That which is contrary to moral right, fact, intention, purpose, etc; evil, injury, crime. A deviation from what is morally right or just.
If a 5th step is taking longer than an hour for a man, maybe two for a gal . . . .
. . . then something else is taking please beside an admission of the exact nature of the protege's wrongs. Perhaps that discussion is appropriate to have, perhaps it is called for, ONE DAY.
But it is NOT part of a Fifth Step.
In 1938,
Nature – original or essential qualities, inborn character; personal or individual character.
Wrong - N. That which is contrary to moral right, fact, intention, purpose, etc; evil, injury, crime. A deviation from what is morally right or just.
~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary
Encyclopedic Edition (1938)
A Fifth Step is not a discussion of “Wrongs.” It is a discussion
of “Natures.”
Peace and Love,
Danny S – RLRA
Real
Live Recovered Alcoholic
Dragging a protégée through Columns 1 & 2 one again - after he's just already done it, so a sponsor can play the heroic witness to facilitate emotions just recently recalled and to rehash drama is cruel and selfish. God and protegee already did that during Step 4. Stick to the directions. It is we, “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Not, “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being our wrongs.”
ReplyDeleteA sponsor who does this is not following the directions and is serving "Self" - not others. If your sponsor did this to them - has not taken Step Five. (est. 90% of AA)