Step 4
“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”
What we refer to in A.A. as “misdirected instinct” is regarded in the Catholic Church as “disordered desires.” God has given instincts and desires which has made us fully human. We have a natural desire to be secure, have food and shelter, and to reproduce. When these natural and wholesome desires start to dominate our life they can cause great harm to our emotional makeup.
Twelve Steps &Twelve Traditions page 42 -
“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”
What we refer to in A.A. as “misdirected instinct” is regarded in the Catholic Church as “disordered desires.” God has given instincts and desires which has made us fully human. We have a natural desire to be secure, have food and shelter, and to reproduce. When these natural and wholesome desires start to dominate our life they can cause great harm to our emotional makeup.
Twelve Steps &Twelve Traditions page 42 -
“Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us have, and are. We want to find exactly how, when, and where or natural desires have warped us. We wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and ourselves. By discovering what our emotional deformities are, we can move toward their correction. Without a willing and persistent effort to do this, there can be little sobriety or contentment for us. Without a searching and fearless moral inventory, most of us have found that the faith which really works in daily living is still out of reach.
We all have this problem - not just alcoholics. For any of us to work toward order in our lives, we must first figure out what parts are disordered. If like so many people today, you are in the process of uncluttering your household, this is going to be similar to diving into the junk drawer. Junk drawers become that way because when we open them, our response is usually a feeling of being overwhelmed. It is much easier to close the drawer and like Scarlet O’Hara, “deal with it tomorrow.”
During the inventory process, we will become more honest and realistic about whom we are. Working Step Four is perhaps the first time some people have had a chance to look at themselves honestly and with compassion. You are not alone in this process. God is with you and prepared to help.
We all have this problem - not just alcoholics. For any of us to work toward order in our lives, we must first figure out what parts are disordered. If like so many people today, you are in the process of uncluttering your household, this is going to be similar to diving into the junk drawer. Junk drawers become that way because when we open them, our response is usually a feeling of being overwhelmed. It is much easier to close the drawer and like Scarlet O’Hara, “deal with it tomorrow.”
During the inventory process, we will become more honest and realistic about whom we are. Working Step Four is perhaps the first time some people have had a chance to look at themselves honestly and with compassion. You are not alone in this process. God is with you and prepared to help.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23,24
Twelve Steps for Catholics
5 comments:
Auntie A-
I like your explanation of "disordered desires." It's something I've been keenly aware of but never with the clarity explained here. Truly, the natural desires - as I understand them after reading this - are peripherals and not the main focus of our lives. It's when a peripheral becomes the main focus that we get into trouble.
You know, this may sound sophomoric from someone who should know better, but a number of things just clicked.
I think this great quote from Tolkien succinctly places the focus where it should be. It's one of my favorites:0)
"Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament... There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death: by the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste (or foretaste) of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man's heart desires."
How has a photo of my desk got on your blog?
I've just watched an interview on EWTN with a man called Macdonald something - he's a doctor in one of your soaps - about how the twelve steps were instrumental in bringing him back to the church after many years away.
Love the junk drawer picture, I can really identify with that analogy. (Only I don't have just one, they're more or less all that way!) I've been enjoying, and learning from, your 12-step series; that was definitely a good idea!
I am finding your 12-Step series so insightful and interesting. As I read them, I can see how they can be applied to different aspects of my life - especially the "junk drawer." You already know I am trying to unclutter my life. Your post came at a good time. Peace and Blessings.
St Ignatius speaks of giving to our lives 'the order of God's love'. I've always found that a luminous phrase.
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