Monday, May 26, 2014
" ...We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 5, pp 66-7.
Today, the words of the Big Book strike a profound chord as they apply to letting go or at least to handling resentments and other ill feelings I might harbor for someone else: I cannot justify feeling anger and anything else bad against anyone else if I hope or expect no one to have such feelings toward me. If I claim spiritual disease as the root of my own misconduct, I have to afford the same to those who have offended me. While I might never grow to the point that I like those who I believe have offended me, rightfully or not, I need to at least work toward purging plans of revenge or hopes that something bad befalls someone else. Today, as I hope no one wishes me ill, I cannot justify hoping the worst for someone else. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment