Daily
Reflections reading May 7th
Respect
For Others
Such
parts of our story we tell to someone who will understand, yet be unaffected.
The rule is we must be hard on our self, but always considerate of others. ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS, p. 74
Respect for others is the lesson
that I take out of this passage. I must go to any lengths to free myself if I
wish to find that peace of mind that I have sought for so long. However, none
of this must be done at another’s expense. Selfishness has no place in the A.A.
way of life. When I take the Fifth Step it’s wiser to choose a person with whom
I share common aims because if that person does not understand me, my spiritual
progress may be delayed and I could be in danger of a relapse. So I ask for
divine guidance before choosing the man or woman whom I take into my confidence
© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
My thoughts on May 7th Reading
Having made a personal inventory, I have been trying to get a new attitude, a new relationship with my higher power, to discover the obstacles in my path, I have admitted my own defects, I have a rough draft of what problems I have found, thru this personal inventory
I had many shortcomings and defects of character, I needed to deal with, this requires action on my part, finding someone to share this inventory with, so I can admit to God, to myself, and to another human, being the exact nature of my defects
This is the Fifth Step, it
was difficult to find the right person to discuss my defects with, it was bad
enough admitting these things to myself, but I know it was necessary to stay
sober; This was a good reason why I had to make the effort
I was told if I try to
skip a step, I might revert to my past behaviors and once again find myself
drunk I had to be entirely honest if I expect to live long in this world, I
needed to think carefully before I chose the person or persons, to take this
intimate and confidential step five
I tried to keep certain facts about my life secret, even from my sponsor, I was not sure about telling him everything, I guess miss-trust played a big part in that, he told me to take the step at a retreat
I took his suggestion once
again, found a priest to take my inventory with
Not that I trusted him any
more than my sponsor, I just knew he could not speak of it to anyone
I had to complete my own
street cleaning, but I had to share the very worst of me to that other human
being, later on in my recovery, I did share my entire inventory with my sponsor
By this time I trusted him completely, I deflated my Ego and fears, I had humbled myself, I had found the true humility, being fearlessness and honest with myself and finally my sponsor, today my memories are not nightmares, I don’t fear what others might think of me
I don’t bury these
memories inside myself, I don’t fear others knowing, telling my story to
someone who will understand yet is unaffected, being hard on myself but always
considerate of others it was important that he be able to keep a confidence
Sharing every twist of character I had, every dark cranny of my past, very open and honest with this priest, I had taken this step withholding nothing, what a relief it was I needed to find a place where I could be and carefully reflect on what I had shared
I thanked God sincerely
for letting me know He is in my life, taking the big book down from my shelf I did
turn to the page, with the twelve steps, I did carefully read the first five
steps asking if I had omitted anything
The book tells us we are building an arch through which we shall walk free at last. 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? I think not!!
God bless you AL M
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