"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
When all else fails," the bumper stickers say, "Pray!" Members of Alcoholics Anonymous generally agree that has been their practice. They tried every possible way to use alcohol with moderation, but that failed. They insisted it wasn't a problem, or the problem, but that failed. So they tried quitting altogether, and that failed. Everything they tried failed. They tried prayer, "Lord, help me stop!" But that failed too. (The Lord doesn't usually work as an assistant or aide to anyone.)
When they finally admitted they were utterly helpless, and nothing they had tried, or might ever try, worked for them; and their only recourse was to confess their helplessness in the face of imminent catastrophe and impending death, they made the desperate decision to turn everything -- meaning Everything -- over to the will of God. Their work, family, health, money, friends, hobbies, idleness: everything belongs to God.
"We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." The "we" in that sentence includes that isolated individualism which falsely guarantees one's freedom. God's will brings them into fellowship with other alcoholics.
The next six steps concern their openness to letting go of bad attitudes, mischievous stereotyping, and "stinking thinking." And whenever they find they are holding out in one area of another, they either relapse or surrender that too. (Remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:1-11)
That search for one's "character defects" -- Catholics call it penance -- is lifelong and must become habitual. The Twelve Step program remolds the character that seemed impervious to change and adaptability. Good habits become virtues with deep roots in one's being.
Penitents forget neither their sins nor their character defects. They always know they may slip back into the awfulness of their past, even when others can hardly believe the horror stories they tell. They do not promise to remain sober for the rest of their lives for they remain free as God is free.
But the Lord himself recognizes his own. Penitents -- those who practice the twelve steps, those who practice penance, those who live the Gospel, disciples of Jesus -- become like their Master; they are meek and humble of heart.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.