Step Seven

THERE was a surprising amount to unpack in this Step, I came to discover. It is the shortest Step - I love the pleasing symmetry that the Seventh Step has just seven words, too - but I found so much in it to inspire and strengthen me. The first word alone made me pause. Can I truly be humble? Can I put my ego, my habit of thinking, “I know best.” to one side? Certainly not always, although I certainly try to do so more often nowadays. When it comes to working the Programme, this Step reminds me to keep that humility in my heart and so right away it is helping me. Then we have ‘asked Him’. Now not to get too much into what my Higher Power means for me - it of course means many different things to many different people whether they have a pre-existing faith or not - but this for me means that I need to be conscious of my Higher Power, have faith in it, whatever it may be, and be willing to place my wellbeing in the hands of this Power. Having done that, I then come to the last bit, ‘to remove our shortcomings’. Again, that humility must come into play. I am aware of my shortcomings now, thanks especially to being gently and patiently guided through Steps Four and Five, but it still isn’t always pleasant to recall them and then have to bring up the humility to ask for help with removing them from me.

For me, this can often take focus and serenity as when I am caught up in myself, in my troubles or grievances, it can be hard to sit and take a minute to ask my Higher Power for help. Humility, faith and focus. Three different and important things I need to work this Step and, thanks to this Programme, I now know I have all of them even if sometimes it doesn’t feel like it or they do not seem apparent at the time. And I have come to learn that every time I do make that effort, I am always rewarded with yet more serenity, strength and a feeling of wellbeing - all things that were totally alien to the old drunk me. So, there is the fourth part, the most important. Working on this Step does require those three aspects of humility, faith and focus, yes, but working on it always inspires those very same qualities in me even further. Which in turn gives me the strength and focus needed to keep all the Steps in my heart and do what I can to carry them with me in my interactions with others. And all this from just seven simple words. I told you there was a lot to unpack!

It is work - maybe more work than it first seems, at least for me - but the reward is truly immeasurable. And thus, so is my gratitude to my Higher Power, the Programme and all my wonderful friends in AA who help me to keep on this path. Thank you all so much for keeping me sober. I couldn’t do it without you, the Programme and my Higher Power.

ROBBIE H, Northampton