When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life? But we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After making our review we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.
I have written before, and I write again and again, a ;life of looking at yourself, reviewing your day, looking for your faults and failures, is nothing like the life and that more abundantly which promises and delivers to us every day:
"10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
and
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5: 12)
Life is the deepest need of man, and Jesus more than supplies it through His Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23)
Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life?
What am I supposed to be doing, exactly? I have turned my will and life over to a power greater than myself, as I understand Him. Well, actually, I have turned my will and life over to some "God" that other people understand, as well. This "god" is unclear to me, as much as to everyone else.
But we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After making our review we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.
"We must be careful not to drift into worry."
In other words, we should worry about worrying. Give me a break!
This shaming question just runs contrary to any sense and sensibility. The Tenth step requires men and women to work a "spot check" inventory, as if they can keep an eye on themselves at all times.
Can any other strategy of self-reflection declare "morbid" or "arrogant" than this constant lifestyle of spiritualized, self-centered check-up? This "new life" turns into a series of problems which we fix, a life of looking at our mistakes, asking God to forgive us, then going about fixing the mistakes that we have made.
No wonder so many people cannot "work this program" or end up killing themselves.
For me, I lived much of my life doing very little, since I could count on not having to "take my inventory" and make amends for anything that I had done.
I have written before, and I write again and again, a ;life of looking at yourself, reviewing your day, looking for your faults and failures, is nothing like the life and that more abundantly which promises and delivers to us every day:
"10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
and
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5: 12)
Life is the deepest need of man, and Jesus more than supplies it through His Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23)
Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life?
What am I supposed to be doing, exactly? I have turned my will and life over to a power greater than myself, as I understand Him. Well, actually, I have turned my will and life over to some "God" that other people understand, as well. This "god" is unclear to me, as much as to everyone else.
But we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After making our review we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.
"We must be careful not to drift into worry."
In other words, we should worry about worrying. Give me a break!
This shaming question just runs contrary to any sense and sensibility. The Tenth step requires men and women to work a "spot check" inventory, as if they can keep an eye on themselves at all times.
Can any other strategy of self-reflection declare "morbid" or "arrogant" than this constant lifestyle of spiritualized, self-centered check-up? This "new life" turns into a series of problems which we fix, a life of looking at our mistakes, asking God to forgive us, then going about fixing the mistakes that we have made.
No wonder so many people cannot "work this program" or end up killing themselves.
For me, I lived much of my life doing very little, since I could count on not having to "take my inventory" and make amends for anything that I had done.
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