Step Seven

Step Seven (as some people put into practice, although not as actually written): Arrogantly demanded which shortcomings the old HP should remove and which shortcomings He'd better keep His paws off of.

When working step seven, it is helpful to pretend that you are cleaning out your closet. You go to the closet door and jerk it open with determination to be rid of the clothes (shortcomings) that you no longer need or want. Of course, you have some sort of receptacle in which to put the unwanted items. Snatching each item from the hanger, or the floor, you look it over and quickly, but resolutely, decide it's fate.

The line from the Seventh Step Prayer, "My Creator, I am now willing for You to have all of me, good and bad." is dancing joyfully in your head as you go about your task. You are going to have so much room in your closet, for the old HP to fill with virtues, when you are done! How wonderful you will be! Just the thought of the new you inspires you and you begin to fantasize about how loving and wise and tolerant and kind and honest you will be.

After a bit, your enthusiasm begins to flag; you had no idea how much work was involved in discarding your stuff (shortcomings). Luckily a vision of your future self, face glowing with peace and serenity pops into your head, and renews your commitment to complete the task at hand. You focus on the project with laser-like intensity; the ugly things have to go and they have to go today! And then, suddenly, you come across something (shortcoming) that is so ugly and hopelessly out of date but you love it. You talk yourself into keeping it, telling yourself that it is not that bad; and, you know, if you match it with something else it could be attractive! There is a little voice inside your head telling you to get rid of it but you distract yourself by redoubling your efforts.

Oh! Looky here! Your lucky shirt! Nothing bad ever happened when you were wearing that shirt. The sleeve is torn, just a tiny bit, and there is a stain on the back, but you could cover it up with a jacket. You can't get rid of it, it has protected you for years and years! Plus, throwing away a lucky shirt is probably worse than breaking a mirror, opening an umbrella in the house, stepping on a crack and walking under a ladder combined! You try it on. Looks great and it feels wonderful. You put on a jacket; yep! covers it all up, just like you knew it would. You will be hanging on to this one for sure. As a matter of fact, you can wear it this afternoon!

Looking over the discard pile, you decide that you've done enough for now. You call the old HP and ask Him to cart all the rejects to the resale shop. After you hang up the keepers you notice there are a lot of hangers you don't need anymore. You decide to donate them to the resale shop as well. See? Already you are becoming more generous. Isn't sobriety grand? Tackle a problem like this and you get (darn near) instant gratification! You begin to hum and dance about the house while birds and small animals follow you around, smiling and chirping along to the background music.

The old HP comes to the door and begins to reach for the stuff you've decided to keep. You point at your discard pile. He shakes His head, "no", and points to the closet. Again, you point to the discard pile. A short battle of wills ensues. The old HP looks at you for a long moment. You point to the discard pile again and He leaves without taking anything.

Later, you tell your sponsor that you are still trying to rid yourself of the crap but that you are having trouble with getting this done. For some unknown reason, the old HP isn't taking the stuff you don't want. After all the trouble you went to, picking out what to keep and not to keep, just to find out the old HP doesn't want the junk either! How's that for gratitude?!?

The above was written in 'sarcasm font' as an example of how 'working the steps' is so very different than 'working over the steps'. There is a difference in humbling asking the old HP to remove my shortcomings that stand in His way, and picking out which shortcomings are convenient for me to hand over to Him.

Have a good and sober day.