Step #9 – True (Spiritual) Grit (part 1)

Steps to the Spirit

In this episode I will try to relate what it was like for me to wrestle with step nine. My version of step nine reads as follows: “I made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”

I am going to treat this step in two parts. The first part has to do with making direct amends wherever possible. The second part will deal with injuring them or others. Let me tell you at the get-go that the mere existence of this step triggered my unbelievable skill at rationalization. In the first part of this step, my rationalization seemed to argue with the word direct. I mean, there are so many other ways to contact people these days, and so much easier than some crazy need to approach them face to face. However, this step directs us to do exactly that, using that word direct. I truly needed to look people I had harmed in the eye as I made my amends. What form did my amends take? Well, they went something like this:

“Hi, (name here), remember the time I argued and said those nasty things to you? Well, the reason for most of that was what I’ve discovered to be my problems with alcohol. I am here to let you know that I am sorry for what I did. I’m doing this as part of a program I am working that will help me to treat myself better, as well as those around me. I am doing this with the help of God. My hope is that you will understand and accept my apology.”

In this podcast I will talk about doing this ninth step, as well as the pitfalls of trying to use other than direct communication with those I had harmed.