(God) aint something you can look at apart from anything else, including yourself.
(Alice Walker from The Color Purple)
When I was a child, I spake like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(1 Corinthians 13:11-12 KJV)
I am being forced to grow up. The decision to grow up has been one of my own; it was not forced on me by anyone else. Growing up for me can be summed up in one short sentence, Taking responsibility for my own life. For years I tried to blame the mess my life was in on everything else. I used economic insecurity as a reason to steal. Because I had a lack of knowledge and education I became a braggart, boaster and liar. When I found that I had trouble in relationships I blamed it on the fact that I came from a family of divorced parents. When I knew that I had problems with alcohol and drugs, I blamed it on the fact that my mom and dad were alcoholic. When I started having legal problems related to my drug and alcohol use, I claimed that the system was against me. Anytime I found myself swimming against the current of life I blamed the current. I think in some issues in the world we should swim against the current, but when it comes to right and wrong the current flows only one way. Today one of the greatest changes in my life caused by my recovery and on going sobriety, has been taking responsibility for my own actions. My insecurities and character defects still show up when life does not go my way, but I am learning to recognize them and deal with them accordingly. Like the apostle Paul said, For now we see through a glass darkly. To me this means that we dont have all the answers at the present time. We can see a little of what life is about and where we are headed spiritually, but we dont have a clear picture. So we grow up, take responsibility, do the best we can, and grow and learn daily as more is revealed. The Greek word that was translated darkly is ainigma. Share with me what the Dake Bible has to say about its usage in this scripture verse.
The Greek word ainigma, a dark saying, riddle. It is the same as our English word enigma. Life is like a riddle. The future state, although somewhat clear from the many revelations about it, is still like a dream. It is hard to realize how wonderful it will be, due to our present lack of experience.
Today when I put away childish things and take responsibility for my own life, even though I dont understand everything, I can live at peace with God by trusting His Word. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
It is when we try to make our will conform with Gods that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with Gods intention for us.
(Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 40)
(Alice Walker from The Color Purple)
When I was a child, I spake like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(1 Corinthians 13:11-12 KJV)
I am being forced to grow up. The decision to grow up has been one of my own; it was not forced on me by anyone else. Growing up for me can be summed up in one short sentence, Taking responsibility for my own life. For years I tried to blame the mess my life was in on everything else. I used economic insecurity as a reason to steal. Because I had a lack of knowledge and education I became a braggart, boaster and liar. When I found that I had trouble in relationships I blamed it on the fact that I came from a family of divorced parents. When I knew that I had problems with alcohol and drugs, I blamed it on the fact that my mom and dad were alcoholic. When I started having legal problems related to my drug and alcohol use, I claimed that the system was against me. Anytime I found myself swimming against the current of life I blamed the current. I think in some issues in the world we should swim against the current, but when it comes to right and wrong the current flows only one way. Today one of the greatest changes in my life caused by my recovery and on going sobriety, has been taking responsibility for my own actions. My insecurities and character defects still show up when life does not go my way, but I am learning to recognize them and deal with them accordingly. Like the apostle Paul said, For now we see through a glass darkly. To me this means that we dont have all the answers at the present time. We can see a little of what life is about and where we are headed spiritually, but we dont have a clear picture. So we grow up, take responsibility, do the best we can, and grow and learn daily as more is revealed. The Greek word that was translated darkly is ainigma. Share with me what the Dake Bible has to say about its usage in this scripture verse.
The Greek word ainigma, a dark saying, riddle. It is the same as our English word enigma. Life is like a riddle. The future state, although somewhat clear from the many revelations about it, is still like a dream. It is hard to realize how wonderful it will be, due to our present lack of experience.
Today when I put away childish things and take responsibility for my own life, even though I dont understand everything, I can live at peace with God by trusting His Word. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
It is when we try to make our will conform with Gods that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with Gods intention for us.
(Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 40)
