Endigar 477 ~ Giving Up Center Stage
From Today’s Daily Reflections;
For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. . . . Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency. (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 70)
Why do I balk at the word “humility”? I am not humbling myself toward other people, but toward God, as I understand Him. Humility means “to show submissive respect,” and by being humble I realize I am not the center of the universe. When I was drinking, I was consumed by pride and self-centeredness. I felt the entire world revolved around me, that I was master of my destiny. Humility enables me to depend more on God to help me overcome obstacles, to help me with my own imperfections, so that I may grow spiritually. I must solve more difficult problems to increase my proficiency and, as I encounter life’s stumbling blocks, I must learn to overcome them through God’s help. Daily communion with God demonstrates my humility and provides me with the realization that an entity more powerful than I is willing to help me if I cease trying to play God myself.
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For me, humility is something I do within myself that has profound outward expressions. I hunger for power and control over my world, but my isolated heart produces only powerlessness and a progressively unmanageable life. God introduces me to truth which is the foundation of sanity. I make an agreement to let God manage me while he continues to introduce me to my true self. I embrace the courage necessary to become vulnerable to a small circle of trust. God weeds the garden of my life so that which is truly me, that my Source planted in the beginning, can come out.
The real delusion for me is that there was ever a choice between humility and powerful lone wolf self expression. Nothing in nature lives and prospers in isolation. If I get a job, I humble my will to the expectations of an employer. When I joined the military, I humbled myself to the fulfillment of mission. When I camped in the forests, I humbled myself to the requirements of survival in the elements. When I married, I humbled myself to the needs of intimacy. The only real choice I have every been given is what I am going to humble myself to.
The inner work of humility produces an outer expression of respect for others and a trust in something that loves us and does magical things with those who chose to humble themselves to the requirements of intimacy with a Higher Power. Let this humility have its completed work in me, and let it be demonstrated in my own usefulness to others.
Daily Reprieve 
July 12, 2014 at 2:59 pm
I really like this post. And it’s so true, no matter what we do, we “humble” ourselves in some way to the task at hand or the environment, etc, as you say. We don’t think of it that way usually, but we do. So why not humble ourselves to our creator? To the highest power we can imagine and relate to? So glad you wrote this.