“I understand”
“We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”
Step Seven
Once we are entirely ready to have our character defects removed, many of us are
entirely ready! Ironically, that’s when the trouble really starts. The more we struggle
to rid ourselves of a particular defect, the stronger that shortcoming seems to
become. It is truly humbling to realize that not only are we powerless over our
addiction, but even over our defects of character.
Finally, it clicks. The Seventh Step doesn’t suggest that we rid ourselves of our
shortcomings, but that we ask our Higher Power to rid us of them. The focus of our
daily prayers begins to shift. Admitting our inability to perfect ourselves, we plead
with our Higher Power to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. And we wait.
For many days, our program may stay on Step Seven. We may experience no
sudden, total relief from defects-but we do experience a subtle shift in our
perceptions of ourselves and others. Through the eyes of the Seventh Step, we begin
to see those around us in a less critical way. We know that, just like us, many of
them are struggling with shortcomings they would dearly love to be rid of. We know
that, just like us, they are powerless over their own defects. We wonder if they, too,
humbly pray to have their defects removed.
We begin evaluating others as we have learned to evaluate ourselves, with an
empathy born of humility. As we watch others, and as we keep watch on ourselves,
we can finally say, “I understand.”
Just for today: God, help me see through the eyes of Step Seven. Help me
understand.