Revealing

TRUTH

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2

REFLECTION

Self-critique is a beautiful thing.

Thank God we are intelligent enough beings to examine the very things that we go about doing—sometimes with pleasurable effects—and look for the fault lines.

But as handy as this critique is for self-improvement, it can become astonishingly mute in the face of certain grosser defects.

Maybe I want to remain envious. Maybe it starts with a twinge of jealousy toward a friend. Innocent enough. Shrugged off. Not a big deal.

But then it becomes an uncomplicated matter to summon that twinge back to mind the following week toward something or someone else.

And behold, the twinge becomes a twang, and we began to make the meager music of the disheartened and self-absorbed.

This is how addictions and lifelong struggles with sin are born. We’ll allow our self-centered desires to run the show long enough to be unable to remove them from office.

It would do me well to critique myself more thoroughly and more often.

It can take shock and awe and death to snap us into the sunlight of the truth. Once we take stock, we realize how dead we truly are.

And that’s exactly the kind of morbid thinking that we try to avoid by hiding out here in a world of comforts and treats, of movie trailers and holidays.

It’s easy to hide out and let the next wave pass over us. Sure, it beats us down a bit. But it’s slow. And that’s life, after all, right? Just take your hits as they come. Live it up while you can. It’ll pass.

Meh.

I think the hard way is the right way. I think I really do have to die to myself to start living. And I think I’ve barely even started.

God, help me life in the blinding sunlight of the truth that reveals me.

SPONSOR

Reflection and gratitude are invaluable in recovery. Gratitude Plus is a social gratitude journal with an anonymous global feed. Try Gratitude Plus now.

NEXT

When you’re ready, here are some tools for you:

1. Book List (amazon link)
   Some of my favorite reads related to recovery and/or wrestling with faith.

2. 4th Step Guide (free download)
   A PDF with instructions and worksheets for a thorough 4th step. Straight from the Big Book. Fearlessness not included.

3. 12-Step Christianity (YouTube)
   My thoughts on the parallels between discipleship and sponsorship.

KEEP LEANING FORWARD

Cheers, Eamonn
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