Step #7 – The Full Monty, “The Works” (part 2)

Steps to the Spirit

I need to start this episode with an apology. When I went to publish the first part of this step last week, I realized that the MP3 files were not uploading. Then, as I looked at the episodes, I realized that none of the episodes for the past three weeks had uploaded. The reason was that I installed a new modem-router and I said it to work constantly on a 5G speed. Well, the 5G wasn’t compatible with my podcast provider and I needed to change the setting to 2.4 in order to upload the files. Anyway, all of the episodes are now live and I hope you will go back and read the descriptions as well as listen to the podcasts.

Now, let’s get back to step number seven, part 2. What I would like to speak about is the final phrase of this step as it is listed in the original 12 steps, (taken from the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous). The phrase is, “holding nothing back”, and for me, it was a very difficult concept to hang onto. Some of these shortcomings and character defects had been my friends for many years. They were my “go to” behaviors, and I was hesitant to do away with them. The founders and originators of this 12 step program knew that, as human beings, we cherish and depend on some of these character defects and shortcomings. Hence, they inserted that phrase, holding nothing back. They knew, (as they were inspired by God) when they wrote this program, that many of us that needed and used this program, have a propensity to look for the easy way out. That was certainly me! I really wanted to hold many things back, just in case my humanity needed to fall back on them.

As I did this seventh step, it would be nice if I could tell you that I overcame the tendency to hold a few things back, but I cannot. I held on to a few of these things, (some, for many years), because, well, because I’m human. I had already said “yes” to God and I was determined to do my best in turning my will and my life over to Him. However, the fact of the matter was that I was still a human being that depended on shortcomings and character defects with which to get by in my day-to-day life. Even though I earnestly and honestly wanted to allow my Spirit to control my life I am, what is referred to as, a duality. Many of today’s fads and teachings tend to negate duality and insist that we are non-dual entities. Some even say that we are figments of the Holy Imagination, and/or actors on a stage and in a movie called life. My common sense, as well as my Spirit, has indicated to me that this is nonsense, and that God has created me as a human being with free choice. I have been given that power of free choice with which to choose either the things my humanity, or to follow the will of God to live the life that is spiritually assigned to me. In order to follow that path, I must humbly, on my knees, continually try to do away with my shortcomings and defects of character.