my daily reflection…

livin a life in this thing we do has required me to move beyond the habitual bemoanin of my alcoholism, beyond the self-pity and suppression that characterized the days of doin my dirt. this thing we do has taught me that when i seek to live by all the spiritual principles, i am free to live as life is meant to be lived. this freedom is not accidental; it is the direct result of workin the steps in their intended order, beginnin with step one and progressin as best as my understandin allows. step nine, rooted in the spiritual principle of Justice, has been pivotal in removin threats to the stability of my recovery. Justice demanded that i acknowledge the harm I had done and seek to repair them, not for the sake of self-preservation, but in order to honor the dignity and peace of mind of those i had harmed. without this practice of Justice, i would remain shackled to the very demons that distorted my emotions, behaviors, and psyche. this process required humility, courage, integrity, and above all, reliance on my HP and the guidance of my sponsor. Justice in this thing we do is not served through impulsive or self-servin amends; it requires patience, discernment, and timin aligned with Gods will rather than my own haste. to rush into amends merely to ease my own guilt would have been to misuse the principle, turnin it into another form of self-centeredness. i came to see that amends is not about provin myself righteous or “holier than thou.” they are about restorin Justice by respectin the humanity of others, acknowledgin that they, too, deserve the same respect and peace that i seek for myself. by livin this way, i neither force my will on others nor place myself above them. Justice required me to accept responsibility, to approach others as equals, and to allow the healin process to unfold in Gods time. today, i can say that the amends i made have brought healin not only to me but to those i had wronged. Justice in this thing we do has been both liberatin and restorative, allowin me to move forward with integrity, free from the threats that once jeopardized my sobriety and my spirit. 1 day @ a time…