May 15: Nothing They Haven't Heard

Part of you is sure that when you read your inventory, the person listening will be horrified.

Paul puts everyone on the same level. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All. The person who’ll hear your Fifth Step. Your pastor. Your sponsor. Everyone at your meeting. Everyone in church on Sunday.

That’s not meant to make you feel better by comparison. It’s meant to show you that nobody’s standing on higher ground. The person listening to your inventory is also someone who needed grace.

And then Paul says: being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Made right with God as a gift. Not earned. Not because anyone measured up.

A sponsor who has done their own Fifth Step has probably heard a lot. They’ve said hard things out loud themselves. A pastor or priest has likely heard confessions that would surprise you. It’s very unlikely that anything on your inventory will shock them.

More than that, a good listener will probably recognize some of what you say. They may nod. They may say, me too. They may share a bit of their own story to help you feel less alone. That moment of recognition is one of the gifts of this step.

If you’re nervous, remember that the person listening is someone who also stands in need of grace. They’re not a judge. They’re a fellow traveler.

If this is a weekend, it might be a quiet time to review your inventory one more time, and to pray for the person who will hear it.

You might also remember that your listener agreed to do this. They said yes because they care about you and believe in what this step can do. They’re on your side before you say a single word.

One thing today

Pray for the person who will hear your Step Five, by name. Ask God to give them wisdom, patience and grace as they listen.

A prayer

God, I’m afraid of being judged. Thank You that all of us have fallen short and all of us need Your grace. Let me remember that the person listening is a fellow traveler. Thank You for Your gift. Amen.

This month’s step: Step Five.

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