More Action

Step We Are On: Seven, Eight

Page: 76

Chapter: 6 “Into Action”

Subject: The removal of our defects - list of harms)

Page 76 - continued

• What more do we do with Step Seven?

We have then completed Step Seven.

That took what? Less than ten minutes. 

• What do we now need?  (The WHEN)

Now we need more action,

• Why do we need it?

without which we find that "Faith without works is dead."

This is a reference to James 2:14-26 in the New Testament, for all you Bible Thumpers out there. The spirituality of AA's Big Book and the experiences conveyed by the co-authors in it are the upshot of miraculous conversion and  the embracing of specific Judeo-Christian principles -- virtually all of which can be found in the New Testament.

Comment: Again, we are reminded that this is a Program of action, not just going to meetings.

• What Steps will we look at now?

Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine.

• What do we have?

We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends.

• Where did it come from?

We made it when we took inventory.

Harm - 1. injury; damage, misfortune; 2 moral evil or wrongdoing - to hurt, damage or injure.

~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary Encyclopedic Edition (1938)

Peace and  Love,

Danny S – RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

http://stepelevencomesalive.blogspot.com

The Journey Toward Perfection Begins

Step We Are On: Six, Seven

Page: 76

Chapter: 6 “Into Action”

Subject: The removal of our defects ("casting out")

Defect - 1. Mental, moral, physical imperfection.

~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary Encyclopedic Edition (1938)

• If we have one or more character defects we are unwilling to part with, what do we do?

If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.

 Comment:  If we truly have the willingness to continue our application of these spiritual principles into our lives, then we are ready.

 Willing - favorably disposed, cheerfully ready.~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary Encyclopedic Edition (1938)

The following is sometimes referred to as the “Seventh Step Prayer.” (an invented designation, nevertheless often heard post-co-founders_designation

• WHEN we are ready, what do we do?  (The HOW)

When ready, we say something like this: "My Creator,

• What parts of our lives are we willing to let Him take?

I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.

• What do we ask Him to remove?

I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.

• We ask Him to grant us what?

Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding.

• How do we know we have completed this prayer?

Amen."

Comment:  Review the formal prayer on page 63 and notice that is was not concluded. There was no “Amen”.  Notice that the Seventh Step Prayer is concluded.  These may be considered as a single prayer, separated by Steps Four and Five to learn what it is we must be willing to have Him remove and promise Him that we have the willingness to do our part.  We can then ask Him to do His part. [The WHAT]

THIS IS NOT A FAIRY TALE. This is real. The co-authors are not telling readers to seek from God anything unattainable.


Please recall a few pages back where the co-authors had predicted for us:

"Now these are about to be cast out." [1]

Cast - throw or hurl, often violently.

~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary – 1938

They were not kidding. This means that selfishness, dishonesty, self-seeking and fear are going to be removed. 

Something within us is forcibly getting thrown out of us. Evicted.

Afterward, we find that our actions are no longer activated by our own interests without regard to the rights, comfort or happiness of others. We are no longer absorbed with placing our wishes or advantage first.  

We no longer lack a sense of fairness and we become upright, chaste, respectable citizens. We find we are much less subject to an emotional dread of the future, of people or imagined threats — as our need to escape from the knowledge of our own "objectionable" defects diminish as they also shrink. 

We are becoming "moral" once again, free with the blitheness of spirit (blessed) as we once had been as little children — having now a restored concept of what is right, just and ethical. We can discriminate, without self-righteousness, between right and wrong as we are capable of being naturally moved by an intuitive sense of right.

Peace and  Love,

Danny S – RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

http://stepelevencomesalive.blogspot.com/

 [1] “Alcoholics Anonymous”, 4^th edition, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 72:0

Is Our Work Solid?

Step We Are On: Six and Seven

Page: 75

Chapter: 6 “Into Action”

Subject: Discussing ourselves with another person


Good morning. We are wrapping up Step Five and moving right into Steps Six and Seven. But before we do it is imperative the protege review his step work and perform a self-evaluation of how he is doing up to this point.

• What do we ask for?

we ask if we have omitted anything,

• What are we in the process of building?

for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man at last.

•  Is it really important that we do this thoroughly?  (4 sentences)

Is our work solid so far? Are the stones properly in place? Have we skimped on the cement put into the foundation? Have we tried to make mortar without sand?

(Page 76)

• If we know we have done the very best we can, have held back no secrets in Steps Four and Five, we can look at what? 

            (The WHEN) 

 If we can answer to our satisfaction, we then look at Step Six.



That is "Our satisfaction" Not a sponsors satisfaction. Remember this is our personal time (one hour) after Step five has been completed. If we can't then we do not continue. If we can, we proceed.

What have the first hundred emphasized as absolutely necessary? 

(The HOW)

We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable.

Willing - favorably disposed, cheerfully ready.

~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary – 1938

Comment: To be successful in this Program, we must be completely willing to follow the clear-cut directions the first hundred laid down for us in this Book.They are just reminding us of that fact at this point in our recovery.

• Are we really ready to have God do what?

Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable?

• What question is running through our mind at this point?

                  (The WHAT)

Can He now take them all - every one?

 Well? Can He? Or are you going to work on it - trying to fix yourself?

Peace and  Love,

Danny S – RLRA

Real Live Recovered Alcoholic

http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com