DAILY REFLECTIONS for December 1st

"SUGGESTED" STEPS

Our Twelfth Step also says that as a result of practicing all the Steps, we have each found something called a spiritual awakening. … A.A.'s manner of making ready to receive this gift lies in the practice of the Twelve Steps in our program.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Pages 106-107

I remember my sponsor's answer when I told him that the Steps were "suggested." He replied that they are "suggested" in the same way that, if you were to jump out of an airplane with a parachute, it is "suggested" that you pull the ripcord to save your life. He pointed out that it was "suggested" I practice the Twelve Steps, if I wanted to save my life. So I try to remember daily that I have a whole program of recovery based on all Twelve of the "suggested" Steps.

Daily Reflections reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.