The 3rd step is the most misunderstood step of all
I have heard people say they can't turn their lives over to the care of God as they understood them. I have also heard people say they turn it over then take it back. They turn it over again and take it back again.
THE 3RD STEP DOES NOT SAY THAT WE TURN OUR LIFE AND WILL OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD AS WE UNDERSTAND HIM. The exact choice of words of the 3rd step are: "MADE A DECISION to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him." (Quoted from page 59 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and page 34 of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions).
So all we have to do in the 3rd step is make a decision. The way we turn it over is by working steps 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Steps 10, 11, and 12 are simply maintenance steps.
|