MAY 29, 18 .. STEP FIVE

Step 5  : Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Step 5 certainly seems very straight forward.

I again repeat the words of Step 5, with emphasis placed upon three words .. 

Step 5 - Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Step 5 does not say one's sponsor.

Step 5 does not say (plural) human beings. You do your Step 5 with one other person. IF you so choose, you certainly can do it with several people, BUT the emphasis here is on another human being

You most certainly can share it with a sponsor but Step 5 does not mandate that you do so.

You may think, "Who else can I share my 4th Step with?"

That list is endless! 

IF you choose not to share your 4th Step with your sponsor, you may do so with a religious person such as a minister / rabbi / priest, a professional therapist, a taxi driver, you may go to another city and find a temporary sponsor in a meeting to share your 4th Step with. Again that list of other human beings is endless.

IF you do choose to share it with someone totally outside of AA, I suggest that, before sharing your 4th Step with them, you at the very least explain to them what you are doing and why you are doing it. You may even want to read to them applicable parts of the Big Book and the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions that mention / discuss the 4th and 5th Steps.

Now I come to something that I feel is very important.

I want to bring up something that I seldom ever hear mentioned in Step 5 discussions.

Some professional therapists / religious clergy / para-legals / etc et al, may have taken a formal oath as part of their employment, that they will report to legal authorities any knowledge they hear about certain crimes.

Some crimes have no statue of limitations. 

So before you reveal certain (call them very dark) aspects of your 4th Step, be aware you may be opening yourself up to serious legal implications. Members of the fellowship have been imprisoned because of revealing serious crimes to another during their 5th Step.

Good Luck as you take this very important step.