We are made for living in relationships, in community. No one can live my life for me. But I can’t do it alone, either.
The Twelve Steps are a fight for life—a hard task we take on in desperation.
The need for a companion on this journey becomes especially clear at Step Four, when we look into our past and face our own shortcomings. Support of another human isn’t optional—it’s essential.
#lent #12steps #step4
OK, we’ve decided to at least try to get on with it. What’s next, then?
An assessment of our lives: our resentments, our fears, our sexual conduct, and the harms we’ve done to others. Our relationships with the world, and the memories that somehow make us unhappy, angry, ashamed, or overly excited.
For me, this is the first truly difficult moment in the process, because it requires actual work – not just talking, thinking, making promises, or declarations.
I need to sit down and write an inventory – bullet points. Not perfect, not meticulous, but concise and brutally honest.
Complete honesty with myself is another part I really struggle with.
Why should I do it anyway? Because others before me did, and it helped them. I don’t have a better answer today.
If I want to move on, if I want to improve my life and not fall back into misery, I can’t skip this step.
#lent #12steps #step4
View quoted note →
View quoted note →
