The Promises – (Part 6) Promise #

Steps to the Spirit

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I will comprehend the word serenity and I will know peace.

This promise is one of the best of the 12 promises. I know, I am likely to say each one is the best of the promises. Well they are also true and comforting that I can’t help myself.

When I think of this promise, I think of what I considered to be serenity before my earnest association with the 12-step program. If you asked me those many years back what serenity was, there were a few things I would’ve thought of. May be sitting by a mountain like on a spring day with my fishing pole and a sixpack keeping cool in the water would’ve been my first thought. Or, it may have been sitting at home in a comfortable chair and reading a good book. Of course, when I think of serenity now it has nothing to do with those things. Oh sure, those might be things I would like to do to be comfortable in my physical self, but not in order to be serene. Serenity to me today is not a place or thing or even an idea. Serenity comes as a direct result of saying “yes” to God serenity is the knowledge that I no longer have anything to forgive and my character defects and shortcomings or as cleaned up as possible for the moment. Serenity is knowing that no matter what is going on on the outside, I am loved by God and am at peace with my fellow humans because I know they are made of the same spiritual stuff as I. The knowledge that I am loved by God, that I am one with all in the spiritual ether, and that I am trying to live my life according to God’s wishes, brings me the peace that is mentioned in the second part of this promise.

However, comprehending serenity and knowing these does not keep us from living our lives with love, caring, and exuberance. The fact is that we now have a different focus for our lives, trying to live as our Spirit would have us live, rather than following our own directions.

It is this feeling of serenity,