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#26 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 75,455
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Big Book Study - Post #26
Welcome back everyone! Let's read through starting from the bottom of page 76 and on to the top of page 77. Here is where we find out what our purpose is: "Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us." [Let's all remember this the next time we hear someone say, "I have no idea what God's will for me is!"] In order to be of service we must free ourselves of the past. The process of steps 4 through 9 accomplishes this task if we are thorough. In paragraph 1 on page 77 we find out the painfully obvious: "It is harder to go to an enemy than to a friend, but we find it more beneficial to us." In the following paragraph we get definite instruction on what we are to do in the process of making amends: "Under no condition do we criticize such a person or argue. Simply tell him that we will never get over drinking until we have done our utmost to straighten out the past." "Our utmost" means we do everything we possibly can. "We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing nothing worthwhile can be accomplished until we do so..." We are there to talk about our transgressions, regardless of how this person may have wronged us. Paragraph 2 on page 78 gives us some direction regarding our creditors. "Most alcoholics owe money. We do not dodge our creditors." That means we answer the phone when they call. We respond to demands for payment and work out a payment plan. Of course drunks want to save up the cash and pay it all at once, but that never seems to work with us. Even if we commit to $20 per week or some other means of payment, over time we meet our obligations. If we are avoiding phone calls or not opening the mail, we cannot do God's will, can we? Having paid my way out of the financial "black hole" myself I can tell you it is worth the effort. From paragraph 3 on page 78 through page 82, there are several mentions of caution when making amends. Criminal offenses are covered on page 78 to 79. A prayer for the 9th Step appears on page 79 in the first paragraph: "...we ask (God) that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be." The paragraph finishes with, "We must not shrink at anything." It's a funny thing, once we have faced all these people and institutions, we fear life less. We find out the what we feared most was what resided within us, and through this process we vanquish this fear. Another caution -- the involvement of others. In paragraph 2 on page 79, we read that we must be sure to account for the effect of our amends on others. A sponsor helps tremendously here, helping us to see things we fail to see at first glance. Turning to page 80 a definition of "amends" is buried in the text. Let's look at paragraph 3: "He felt he had done a wrong he could not possibly make right." Looking at that line, we realize that we are attempting to "right a serious wrong." Sounds quite a bit more than our "I'm sorry I _____________ (fill in the blank)," doesn't it? With our next post we'll pick up at the bottom of page 80 where the discussion of our domestic situation begins in relation to Step 9. Have a great day! Jim
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![]() "No matter what you have done up to this moment, you get 24 brand-new hours to spend every single day." --Brian Tracy
AA gives us an opportunity to recreate ourselves, with God's help, one day at a time. --Rufus K. When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. --Franklin D. Roosevelt We stay sober and clean together - one day at a time! God says that each of us is worth loving. |
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