Meditations on "Amends"

When we begin the recovery process we are often overwhelmed by the guilt and shame of the mess we have made of our lives.

Little by little as we walk with God and work the steps, we become aware of who we are and how we relate to others.

One of the central pillars of the recovery world is the sharing of each person’s experience, strength, and hope.

When we come to the point of making amends, fear can overwhelm us as we think about those we have harmed.

When we turn our will and our life over to God’s care and trust in the new life Jesus gives us, does that mean we should never reflect on guilty feelings?

For most of us compiling a list of people we have harmed and becoming willing to make amends to them is extremely intimidating.

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path .

A lot of us would admit that we acted immaturely in our former relationships, and that we used and abused others so that we could get what we wanted when we wanted it.

In the middle of Jesus teaching about how to treat our enemies he inserts one of the most famous principles of human interaction called The Golden Rule.

We feel hurt when another’s unkind words or actions cause our self-worth to be devalued.

Those who make steady progress in recovery are those who remain focused and give careful attention each day to what works.

A healthy foundation for life with God in recovery includes seeking truth in all our affairs.