[nandm]

Day 7

High Hopes

"Propaganda is the art of persuading others what you don't believe yourself." Abba Eban

How do we go about asking our Higher Power for help? Meditation is one way. Holding a conversation---in our heads or in writing---is another. Then there's prayer. It need not be formal, although the getting-down-on-your-knees practice is favored by many, for it teaches us about the surprising power of humility. However we choose to pray, it is an expression of faith, and haven't we always heard that "faith can move mountains?"

As children we were told that if we wished upon the first star that shone in the evening sky, our wish would come true. If we didn't get our wish, we became doubting Thomases---but if our wish did come true, we became true believers. Later in life we began to recognize our power to turn our dreams into reality---if we held our hopes high and were willing to do the necessary footwork.

High hopes are what we need when we begin to work Step Seven. They're an indication of probable success in whatever goal we set for ourselves. The person who starts out with an optimistic approach tends to have an edge on those who harbor doubts and skepticism. This doesn't mean that those of us who approach this step with grave misgivings are doomed to failure. It simply means that the path becomes much easier when we're willing to put our beliefs and disbeliefs to the test.

The same ethic we explored in Step One---"surrendering to win"----begins to manifest when we do Step Seven in this spirit.

Today's Step: I approach the healing of my shortcomings with high hopes.

Step by Step. Muriel Zink