Let us not save nightmares, for they are not fitting offerings for Christ, and so they are not fit gifts for you.  Take off the covers and look at what you are afraid of.  Only the anticipation will frighten you, for the reality of nothingness cannot be frightening.  Let us not delay this, for your dream of hatred will not leave you without help, and Help is here.  Learn to be quiet in the midst of turmoil, for quietness is the end of strife and this is the journey to peace.

To see how erratic emotions victimized us often took a long time.  We could perceive them quickly in others, but only slowly in ourselves.  First of all, we had to admit that we had many of these defects, even though such disclosures were painful and humiliating.  Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word “blame” from our speech and thought.  This required great willingness even to begin. 

We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future.  We were prepared to look at it from an entirely different angle.  We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us.  In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had the power to actually kill.  How could we escape?  We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how?  We could not wish them away any more than alcohol.

So, I was grateful to have the permission offered by the fourth step to acknowledge the pain I was in, and my need for help. The fourth step was a gift of instructions given to me by those who had gone before and found their freedom and who were now offering me a rope so I could be lifted out. By taking responsibility for the world as I saw it, I can allow God to be the solution.