Do The Next Right Thing
In last night's meeting, we were discussing the Third Step, specifically the turning over of will and life. One thing I heard awhile back that helped me with this (for I, like the person who brought up the topic, had problems with the religious tone I heard in this step) is that "will" is "thinking" and "life" is "actions." Several people shared, including me, and really got me turning things over in my head. I had my PDA with me, so I pulled it out and wrote the following:
"Some people have the gift of innately doing the next right thing." - There are and have been people in this world (teachers like Jesus, Buddha, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, etc.) that simply do selfless acts because that is how they are wired. They know no other way to act. They are very God-like and cannot conceive of putting themselves before others.
"Some innately do the wrong thing." - There are mass murderers, serial rapists, power-mad dictators, wanna-be gods, etc. that cannot think of another before themselves. They, too, are wired this way and cannot choose to do good because they cannot see the choice. They only know one way of living and are incapable of even seeing other ways they can live. They are Satan-like.
"Most of us innately do right things and wrong things." - Most of us move through our lives doing right things and wrong things. Most of these actions are done without choice or decision; they're just what we do. Sometimes we are very God-like and it comes naturally. Sometimes we are Satan-like and it, too, comes naturally.
"When I try to turn my will and my life over to God, I try to make a conscious choice to do right things and come as close as I can to innately doing good." - When I am consciously aware of my thinking and actions, I can choose to be God-like or Satan-like. When I pray, asking God to direct my thinking and my actions, I am trying to condition my consciousness and subconsciousness to be aware of choices and, whereas I do not always innately do the right thing, try to choose be as God-like as I can and act upon the choice.
I use "God-like" and "Satan-like" because they are generally well-known ideas. Though I do not subscribe to the religious notions most commonly ascribed to these terms, the underlying meaning of each is universal. To me, "God-like" means thoughts and actions that move one closer to God. "Satan-like" means moving away from God.
"God" means... Well, you figure that out for yourself. I know what "God" means for me.
Some people have the gift of innately doing the next right thing. Some innately do the wrong thing. Most of us innately do right things and wrong things. When I try to turn my will and my life over to God, I try to make a conscious choice to do right things and come as close as I can to innately doing good.The statement has a lot of meaning for me and is concise enough that I think it could use some explanation of what I think when I read it.
"Some people have the gift of innately doing the next right thing." - There are and have been people in this world (teachers like Jesus, Buddha, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, etc.) that simply do selfless acts because that is how they are wired. They know no other way to act. They are very God-like and cannot conceive of putting themselves before others.
"Some innately do the wrong thing." - There are mass murderers, serial rapists, power-mad dictators, wanna-be gods, etc. that cannot think of another before themselves. They, too, are wired this way and cannot choose to do good because they cannot see the choice. They only know one way of living and are incapable of even seeing other ways they can live. They are Satan-like.
"Most of us innately do right things and wrong things." - Most of us move through our lives doing right things and wrong things. Most of these actions are done without choice or decision; they're just what we do. Sometimes we are very God-like and it comes naturally. Sometimes we are Satan-like and it, too, comes naturally.
"When I try to turn my will and my life over to God, I try to make a conscious choice to do right things and come as close as I can to innately doing good." - When I am consciously aware of my thinking and actions, I can choose to be God-like or Satan-like. When I pray, asking God to direct my thinking and my actions, I am trying to condition my consciousness and subconsciousness to be aware of choices and, whereas I do not always innately do the right thing, try to choose be as God-like as I can and act upon the choice.
I use "God-like" and "Satan-like" because they are generally well-known ideas. Though I do not subscribe to the religious notions most commonly ascribed to these terms, the underlying meaning of each is universal. To me, "God-like" means thoughts and actions that move one closer to God. "Satan-like" means moving away from God.
"God" means... Well, you figure that out for yourself. I know what "God" means for me.
