"Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo." -- Ambrose Bierce
As a religious person I could be such a hypocrite. I thought that my "goodness" was dependent upon my judging others to be inferior. I was always putting other people down so that I could appear terrific.
But a part of me always knew this was wrong. I ignored the religious teaching that emphasized forgiveness and acceptance and instead focused on judgment and condemnation. It was all part of my sickness. Inside I was hurting and feeling guilty but I hid these feelings with a mask of hypocrisy and respectability.
Today I do not need to do this. I have a religion that can accept the non-religious and rejoice in the different cultures and creeds. I do not fear those who are different, and I am slowly beginning to accept my many imperfections.
You, who have loved me through forgiveness, help me to forgive.
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* We eventually realize that just as the pains of alcoholism had to come before sobriety, emotional turmoil comes before serenity. *
As Phil says, "we are here because we are not all there"
As the Bible says, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"
As AA says, "Progress and not perfection"
holding grudges, and resentments, and the past block our recovery,, anger is a difficult thing to deal with constructively,,, and I'm very grateful that the AA program and my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God, have given me understanding of how important forgiveness is and to be able to do it, and to receive it.
As a child I was taught that 'sins' should be severely punished. As an adult I am learning that sins just need to be corrected and life goes on better than it was before.
Shalom
love in recovery,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
wow, doll, i used to do that..........putting others down, to make ME feel good.....i was so shame based, if i could find BIGGER faults in others, i didn't feel so bad......this is gr8....loved it...hugs, rosie
