An Ever-Growing Freedom

 Step 7: Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings

When I came into the rooms, I was more of an absolutist than I am now. All or nothing. Do it right or be a failure. The ‘either/or’s of duality were my base of understanding. Shades of gray were for equivocators. I would do it ‘right’ or not at all. Working the steps was going to be a linear process - get it done, check it off.

Surprise! The working of the steps has been more like a game of “Chutes and Ladders” - up one or two rungs, then slide back down. This is far from failure; this is reality, at least for me. As I’ve worked myself up the steps, I’ve found it necessary to revisit the prior ones. This has proven to be oh, so true with step 7. As I am made aware of the shortcomings I was previously blind to, I can see where those character defects have had a negative impact on not only myself, but with those I love as well as total strangers. I also find myself with a new awareness of the shortcomings I knew about, but thought I’d hidden. Ha! They manifest in my words, thoughts, and actions, thus showing themselves to all.

I want to be a person who recognizes and shares her value as an individual. I want to have the self-esteem which comes from doing esteem-able acts, to walk humbly side-by-side with fellow travelers, to offer help when I can and ask for help when needed. Humbly asking my Creator to take the negative traits takes my active participation in uncovering them, first to myself, then in exploration of their manifestations with my sponsor. 

The Step 7 Prayer is a valuable tool for daily use: My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that You now remove from me every single defect of character that stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows. Grant me strength as I go out from here to do Your bidding. Amen

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