The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
The C2C reading for May 21st speaks about the Seventh Step where we Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings.
The reading .points out that" humbly" simply means that we calmly ask HP, and that we don't demand and we don't make numerous requests. We simply accept our place in our relationship to God, no more, no less.He is in control and we need help
The reading points out that true humility should never be humiliating. Instead we can feel honored to take our rightful place in the wonderful partnership we are developing with the God of our understanding. It goes on to say that humility is said to be "perpetual quietness of heart". Which means I have done my part and trust God to take care of the rest. Although we do not know the outcome we trust because we will be given the power to carry out whatever HP presents.
The quote is from our Alcoholism the Family Disease; "Humility will help us see ourselves in perspective and keep our minds open to the truth."
I discovered that another word that I found most troublesome in this step was to" ASK" -- I found I had problems asking for help because one of my defects was thinking I had to know it all, do it all and if I needed help I was less than--another lesson in humility Thank you alanon and HP for the wisdom . Tis is a POWERFUL Step.
Thank you for sharing this page and your ESH regarding humility. I found this step very powerful, also...I definitely adopted an adjusted view of the humility concept after reading and working in AlAnon; I really like the description of it being a 'perpetual quietness of the heart', and also the thoughts in May 5 that humility is not about how much we do for other people, but how much we do in our relationship with our higher power, which includes letting god do his part...wisdom indeed
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Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
For me the "humbly ask" meant ask and then let go of the outcome, not ask, believing that no good would come of it really, and then carry on obsessing and trying to plan my way out of whatever it was I needed.
Before, praying/talking to what I understood as my HP at the time was sort of like buying a lottery ticket; I didn't really think it would achieve anything but it didn't hurt to have a go. I love the clarity regarding my HP that I gained through the steps and knowing now that if I ask and let go of the outcome, one way or another it will work out.
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If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see? (Lewis Caroll)
To me asking my higher power, really reinforces the idea that the problems I face are bigger than me. Things are out of my control. If I just humbly ask, "then let go and let God" it is humbling. Its admitting everything is not all on me; there is something greater than me. Humbly asking, is like acknowledging my human frailty and being OK with it.
-- Edited by Rinn on Saturday 21st of May 2016 09:16:06 PM
