Becoming ready to examine our defects is a process

I continue to appreciate how the 12-steps provide guidance for us, particularly in the arena of character development. In Step Six, we become ENTIRELY ready to have God remove our defects of character. All of them? Yes. Previous steps have prepared us. This particular step challenges the participant in two ways: it requires a complete willingness to have God do for us what we cannot do on our own and a commitment to the ongoing work of admitting that we have shortcomings. This one may challenge our more traditional ways of thinking about religion. In a world that often asks us to give more to God as an act of contrition, love or obedience, this step invites us to release, let go and surrender.

Maybe in the spirit of release, let go and surrender we find no need to describe someone as stinky. If my grandchildren said such a thing I might respond, “No potty words!” Because that would indeed be a potty word to suggest that someone left a stench in their wake.

Maybe in the spirit of release, let go and surrender we find a reason to observe our rage and ask, “Why so angry?” Is that not the same question God asked Cain?

Maybe in the spirit of release, let go and surrender we discover that our emotional attachment to other people’s opinions is more about having poor boundaries than it is about righteous suffering.

Step six says: We became entirely ready to have God remove our defects of character. How ready are we?