Humbly Asked Him to Remove Our Shortcomings
Will He? Can He? Perhaps it also begs the question: why would He? The first two questions are answered readily with the following statement: Only if the Higher Power we have chosen is indeed greater than us. This of course disqualifies a chair, a light bulb, or an AA home group. The First 100 were very specific about their God and it was their documented experience that
God could and would remove our shortcomings upon certain conditions. First, we must be entirely ready. Second, we must be humble. The first condition was met upon the completion of Step Six. The condition of humility is an entirely alien concept to us alcoholics. Mostly, we think of ourselves and our needs before anything or anyone else. It is our pattern to make sure that our every instinct, desire, and whim is met before we will even consider meeting a larger need in our neighbor—and even then, only if it does not cause us too much anxiety or inconvenience. Better still, if we can leverage our neighbor’s unfortunate circumstance to our own advantage then we will feel a bit superior and take pity on the poor soul. Contempt is what we are more used to feeling; an emotion that is the exact opposite of humility. What is it then to be humble?
To paraphrase a passage from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, humility is a condition which we desire to seek and do the will of God, above all else. However we must supplant our will with God’s, a heretofore impossible task. This is what is required for us to successfully complete, not only Step Seven, but all of the Steps. Any alcoholic with any sort of joyful sobriety will be the first to tell you that a humble disposition is a daily challenge, but a necessary one to maintain a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Some days are hard, most are easy but a worthwhile pursuit nonetheless. This brings us back to our third question as to why God would even bother to remove our shortcomings. I would never presume to speak for God; however I will indulge a hypothesis: our shortcomings are an obstacle to our usefulness to Him. If we are indeed instruments of His peace, love, and charity; then our shortcomings would render that instrument useless. It is not only in our best interest to remain joyfully sober; God has a vested interest as well. Again, I will attempt to theorize: we were meant to love and to serve God and it is His will that we love and serve one another. The shortcomings we have identified in Step Four, confessed in Step Five, and were entirely ready to have removed in Step Six; now can be removed by the only person capable of restoring our freedom: God. This freedom, a gift of grace and charity by the ultimate good Himself, can now be used as it was intended. The obstacles have been removed and now God can really get to work!
The subtitle of this blog is “Solid Recovery.” What exactly is solid recovery? Well, in a few words, it is recovery wherein the promises of the Big Book have come to fruition through the practice of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. If you are reading this post and only some, or none, of the promises have not materialized, do not worry! I have it on good authority (and personal experience) that they will…so long as the 12 Steps are taken. If the promises have materialized in your life then you have what other people want…solid recovery. Begin by transmitting what you do have. Pass it on! Start by leaving a comment on this blog about your views and opinions concerning the program and our Victor Valley AA community. Well then, rise and let us trudge the road of Happy Destiny…
