In considering the topic of today’s newsletter, the 7th step of AA, I was reminded of an old joke/story that seemed relevant and to the point. It involves a person who died by drowning and begins as she arrives at the Gates of Heaven. It goes like this:
God: “Welcome, my daughter, to heaven”
Newcomer: “Thank you God, but I must tell you that I’m a little peeved with you.”
As one might expect, God is not accustomed to such direct input, but She is not phased.
God: “Tell me. What’s troubling you?”
Newcomer: Well, as You know, the dam burst. Eventually I drowned despite all my prayers to You.
God: Go on. Continue.
Newcomer: “Well, the police came by and told me to evacuate, but I told them that I was praying to be saved and that I had faith in You. Later, the fire department came and I told them the same thing. Finally, as I sat on the roof of my house with my neighborhood completely submerged, the Red Cross helicopter came by and dropped a rope ladder to me. I gave them the same response about my prayer and faith. But I drowned. God, you let me down.”
God shook Her head in puzzlement, explaining. “I don’t know what to tell you. I sent the police. I sent the fire department. I sent the Red Cross. Were you expecting a fiery chariot to descend from the sky?”
The seventh step of AA states:
We humbly call on Her to remove our shortcomings.
I think my whimsical tale of the “newcomer” makes a point about prayer and our role in change. A logical extension of a misguided interpretation of prayer may lead to the following train of thought: I’m praying to God for something. I’m doing my part by praying. God’s part, therefore, is to change me. If I don’t change, then who is responsible for my continued unacceptable behavior? It must be God!
While most individuals of faith may not literally express or project blame upon the deity, they may, at least unconsciously, reach that conclusion. As a professional counselor who often instructs his students that we are in the “change business,” I believe that it is incumbent on all of us to assume responsibility for working on out own issues, certainly with the help of however we perceive God.
Like the shortsighted “newcomer,” we often fail to tap into the wisdom, energy, and resources that the universe provides us. The tools for change are available to all of us. Perhaps they arrive in the form of an AA sponsor, or via the love and caring of a spouse or family member, or in the messages from profound authors who transmit wisdom in the Bible or great philosophical tomes.
No matter the source. The point is that the tools are there. Why not use them?