Steps Two & Three
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Steps two and three are a natural progression, once we understand we are nothing without God. When we come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves, which for Catholics is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, can restore us to sanity, we have the beginning of faith. We believe, even though we can’t put our finger on exactly how or when this is going to happen.
Step three is usually where we start to run into problems. We have to make a decision for surrender, which for most of us is alien to our nature. We want to be in control. I have seen people whose lives were a complete shambles balk at conforming to the will of God. If you think this thinking is the province of drunks, just take a quick scan over your day and think about all the times you thought or acted as if your intelligence backed by willpower could control the outcome of a situation.
In the A.A. program, step three leaves the door open for those folks who have never had God in their lives. I have even witnessed atheists (if their really is such a thing), assign the roll of “Higher Power” to the AA group. I used to get rather annoyed at that sort of thing, but have come to understand that each person is on a journey. My only job was to plan and pack for my own trip, not theirs.
To quote from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions: “All of the Twelve Steps require sustained and personal exertion to conform to their principles and so, we trust, to God’s will. It is when we try to make our will conform to God’s will that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the mis-use of willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is the purpose of A.A.’s 12 Steps and 12 Traditions.”
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Steps two and three are a natural progression, once we understand we are nothing without God. When we come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves, which for Catholics is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, can restore us to sanity, we have the beginning of faith. We believe, even though we can’t put our finger on exactly how or when this is going to happen.
Step three is usually where we start to run into problems. We have to make a decision for surrender, which for most of us is alien to our nature. We want to be in control. I have seen people whose lives were a complete shambles balk at conforming to the will of God. If you think this thinking is the province of drunks, just take a quick scan over your day and think about all the times you thought or acted as if your intelligence backed by willpower could control the outcome of a situation.
In the A.A. program, step three leaves the door open for those folks who have never had God in their lives. I have even witnessed atheists (if their really is such a thing), assign the roll of “Higher Power” to the AA group. I used to get rather annoyed at that sort of thing, but have come to understand that each person is on a journey. My only job was to plan and pack for my own trip, not theirs.
To quote from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions: “All of the Twelve Steps require sustained and personal exertion to conform to their principles and so, we trust, to God’s will. It is when we try to make our will conform to God’s will that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the mis-use of willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is the purpose of A.A.’s 12 Steps and 12 Traditions.”
4 comments:
Most definitely. Step three is the most difficult one to master. Imagine giving control of your life to God and allowing Him to make the most of you. I will be the first to admit that God's brinkmanship is terrifying, but alas I’ve learned in my everyday contemplation and internal combustion that He knows what is best. Unlike me.
Have added your blog to my links..God bless.
Thanks Jackie - me too you:)
The 12 steps are for everyone, aren't they, not just alcoholics or drug addicts. I see so much in them for my own life, and so much of what you write is very helpful to me. Thanks, Adrienne.
Post a Comment