Truly Taking the Third Step

 "Once we compulsive eaters truly take the Third Step, we cannot fail to recover." - The 12x12 of OA, p. 27

What does it mean to truly take the Third Step? The Third Step prayer says this...

"God, I offer myself to Thee -- to build with me and do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, They Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!"

In BBA, once we get through steps 6 & 7, we come to understand and make the choice that God is either everything or he is nothing. There is no in-between. I either let God run the show or my life is a complete mess. I am learning how to trust God with everything in my life. It's not always easy to do that. I've had many years of my life where I didn't even believe in God. The thing is, I want to be free of my compulsions which include not only compulsive eating but many other things, too, some of which have been with me since childhood. When I get a little frustration rising, I don't want it to take hours to get over it. Emotionally, I've not be sober either. So, God, with a little patience from you and continuous reminders to turn towards you (thank you Gottman training) and not away, I believe I will become more trustful of your presence in my life and will let you lead. I'm not blind to the parallel of learning to social dance with my husband and letting him lead when I'm not able to see behind me. The more I let him lead, the more I trust that he won't run me into anything and won't let me fall. It's taken practice and a willingness to let go of control. God, I'm letting you lead today, and please gently remind me of when I try to take back control.

Everclear

Dodger and I went down to The Devon this evening to watch one of our favorite grungy

bands from the 90s. It was so much fun being able to see them in concert.

I ended up buying him a T-shirt online (the one pictured above) for the band

because he didn't like any of the ones for sale at the venue.

Rodeo in the Grandstand

Dodger and I went to the rodeo this evening.

Asking for Transformation

 "I must keep my feet on the ground... taking care of business." - Seeking the Spiritual Path

How funny that the writer of this story used those words about keeping their feet on the ground. When I work with my sponsor and we do deep work on my inner stuff, framing it all up in the 12 Steps, she always asks me where my feet are, and if they're not fully flat on the ground, she has me put them there. As I think about grounding through my feet, God's guidance is not lost on me that having me feet on the ground is also metaphorically and physically how I can "take care of business" by putting one foot in front of the other and taking action on the next steps that God puts in front of me. I don't have to concern myself with the unanswered and unanswerable questions, right action will reveal the next steps and ultimately lead to right outcomes, because God's outcomes are always right outcomes. I am reminded today to stop fighting against God and let God lead fully, taking only the next needed step in front of me. Thank you God for the peace you bring into my life as I follow your way along the path. You always clear the way, one step at a time.