[nandm]

Directions for the ninth step 76:16-84:12

Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past. We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.

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The debris caused by our misapplication of self-will blocks us from God, hinders our progress, and chains us to the past. We must clear up these matters to be free to live our new lives. Not dealing with the harms we cause in a timely manner allows them to build up. This piling up of neglected responsibilities makes the load we carry in life unbearable. In the Eighth Step we learn how to right our wrongs and in the tenth Step we learn how to prevent them from beginning to pile up again.

Asking in prayer for the willingness to face up to our past will work if we do it. Remember, we are no longer operating solely on our own limited power and courage, but we now have access to the limitless power of God. God can do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves.

“If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it---then you are ready to take certain steps” (58:9). Victory over alcohol and a spiritual experience (79:5) are the “it” we are willing to go to any length to get. Step Nine is one “length” we must go to if we are to realize these goals.