Thursday, September 6, 2018

September 6, 2018

How Far Are Willing to Go?


At a 12 step meeting this evening, we were discussing the 8th step. “We made a list of all the persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.” We discussed the usual people we had harmed, parents, employers, lovers, etc.
    The thought came to me, ‘How far is one who is serious about the program, and is willing to make amends willing to go?’ 
    Suppose in the days of our using, we robbed a liquor store. It was the only serious cdrime we ever committed. We came to the 8th step. We became overwhelmed with guilt.
    Would you be willing to turn yourself in and throw yourself on the mercy of the court? Could you say, “Your Honor, I am guilty. I did the crime. The program by which I live demands that I be willing to make amends to all those I harmed. I was under the effects of drugs at the time, but now I am clean, and am willing to make amends, and do whatever penalty and restitution that I have to serve.”
    The basic text of NA, Narcotics Anonymous, states that “We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. ... We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all” ...
    Would you go so far as to have the rigorous honesty to go that far if it meant whether or not you might use again?
    The consensus around the table, which was primarily people in their first year of recovery, was “Hell no! I wouldn’t do it!”  
     I explained that it was a hypothetical question, and somehing to meditate on. The denial was strong.
    This is my question.  How far are you willing to go to honestly and thoroughly work the steps of recovery of the 12 step programs?  How far are you willing to go to insure your recovery?
    I am not suggesting that you turn yourself in for crimes done while you were under the influence.  This is merely something on which to meditate.