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It's six of one, half a dozen of the other to me.
Step Six of the original Twelve Steps,
as interpreted by Bill B., author of Compulsive Overeating, 1981,
a text he developed after finding recovery through Overeaters Anonymous (OA), is:
"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."
When I enlisted in the US Air Force, one of the career fields I considered was called Readiness. The motto of my unit, 138th Fighter Wing, Tulsa Air National Guard, is "Strength through Preparedness." What does it mean to be entirely ready, and what does it mean to remain ready, especially in relation to the sixth step?
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| Image source: https://fliphtml5.com/veop/abir/basic |
It is one thing to desire change, even to declare oneself in need of assistance to execute that change, and still another to be fully ready and poised for that process. As Bill B. explains, "giving up our character defects and becoming sane makes us feel very vulnerable...even though we seem ready to have God remove our defects of character, we still resist." He suggests that we progress, then, with one defect at a time, exercising genuine willingness to release them into God's hands. "How can you do that? Well, you just do it, that's all..." writes Bill B., "...just leave it, and build up from there."
At this point, I'm seeing that the sixth step is like a set of steps in itself, the number and nuances of them relative to the pilgrim whose quest it is to walk away from the attitudes and behaviors which bind him/her. It makes me think of dancing in that way, because the steps within this step may not all look alike, but they'll get the dancer to the finish anyway. The rhythm [of your life's events, your relationships, your progress] is likely to switch on you, but you keep moving because, "our problems do not lessen in this Program; our capacity to deal with them, however, increases infinitely," according to Bill B. I've taken line dancing lessons at my Community Center for a few years. There are dancers of all levels in the same room, all stumbling to the same tune, led by a volunteer who is, herself, and amateur. Now, I'm positioned on the side or in back of the room so others can follow my lead - like a sponsor. Even those of us who know the steps and the song by heart sometimes make missteps, but we don't quit until the song ends and it's time to move onto the next one. Further, if you sit out dance steps you haven't yet mastered, you will never grow. "We have to deal with the character defects that compulsive overeating [insert your wayward vexation] covers up."
I began by noting my unit's motto, "Strength through Preparedness." How did we prepare, or make ourselves ready for the tasks necessary to protect and defend our country? How did we individually and collectively promote a state of perpetual readiness to be the war-fighting team with mission-ready jets and equipment we were? We put ourselves through training, physically, mentally, emotionally. We made sacrifices socially and financially. We strengthened ourselves and our Wingmen in every way we could; and then we positioned ourselves appropriately. We were prepared, yes, but until we were proven, we were merely practiced - readiness doesn't mean it isn't scary or risky or easy.
Jotting with Johnna:
- Are you entirely ready to allow God to remove the character defects keeping you stuck in patterns of self-destructive behavior?
- What resistance comes up when you consider yourself as a person who no longer has those traits?
- Will you put yourself on the proverbial dance floor and move toward mastery, willing to make missteps as we all do; or are you merely going to sit aside and listen to the music?
Remember:
"Ready and willing" is a common phrase because it is essential to moving toward something desired. James 1:22-25 urges us to eagerly do the work and earnestly promises we are blessed when we do. You are so very worthy of the work of readiness and the blessings to come!
Stay tuned. Stay focused. Stay well.
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