“We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past.”
At this vital Fifth Step, don’t forget there are three listeners in the room. Sure, there’s us, finally saying this stuff out loud. There’s the person sitting across from us, listening without running for the hills. But there’s also the third listener, the one we’ve actually been trying to get near this whole time: our Creator.
This whole thing is about dragging the stuff that’s been blocking us out into the light. The shame, the secrets, the weird thinking, the old garbage we kept stuffed in the back room because we thought if anyone saw it, they’d be done with us. But imagine God sitting right there saying, Go on. It’s okay. Keep going. You’re still loved. You’re still safe. You’re still connected.
Being human is messy business. Trying to sort out life well enough to have a spiritual awakening can feel like we dumped all the puzzle pieces out of the box onto the table and are just staring at the pile, wondering how this is ever supposed to make sense. But as the pieces start going back together, a beautiful picture begins to show up, as long as we keep searching for the missing pieces.
This process isn’t about being judged. It’s about being freed. Slowly but surely, we start gaining traction in a new understanding, a new way of life that demands rigorous honesty, sure, but also offers something most of us haven’t felt in a long time: relief.
And lo and behold, we start to feel good. Not fake good. Not “everything’s fixed” good. Just lighter. Less alone. A little less full of poison.
Are you starting to feel good yet?
