JUL 25, 18 .. STEP SEVEN

The month of July, the 7th month of the year, has arrived and it is time for a thought-or-two about Step 7.

Step 7 : Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings

Steps 6 and 7 certainly overlap each other to some extent.

Step 6 talks of character defects. Step 7 talks of shortcomings. 

Going back to last month, with regard to Step 6, I was taught that a defect is an overt, an obvious, an identifiable action / activity.

Lying, Cheating, Stealing, Bullying, Rape, Racism, Resentment, Anger, Fear, Cowardice, Self pity,
Self justification, Self importance, Egotism, Self condemnation, Guilt, Evasiveness, Dishonesty,  Perfectionism, Impatience, People-pleasing, Apathy, Laziness, Resentment, Hatred, Rage, Selfishness, Pride, Hubris, Arrogance, Envy, Lust, Gluttony. 

Now to Step 7 and shortcomings.

I was taught that a short coming is falling-short of ideal goals and standards of behavior.

In my own personal opinion, shortcomings are a real challenge to deal with. First they are fairly intangible. In many situations only I myself am aware of a shortcoming.

Here is one example : 

I love to watch sporting events live and also on televison. Often I have the feeling of, "I should be doing something to help another alcoholic / another person instead of watching this sporting event. 

We all wait one full year to watch an NFL football Super Bowl. We wait four full years to watch soccer's World Cup games. IF I am not careful, I can readily spoil my enjoyment of something special that I really enjoy and love with the negative word should.

The 7th Step Prayer :

My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character that stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go our from here, to do your bidding. Amen

I will quote the last line of the second full paragraph in the AA Big Book on page 76 that follows the 7th Step Prayer that reads as follows : 

We have then completed Step Seven.

Say The 7th Step Prayer with some reverence and sincerely and move onto Step 8.

I was taught to continue to say, on a daily basis, the 7th Step Prayer and that God would give me opportunities to practice Steps 6 and 7.