Motive

I've been thinking about this with relation to the steps... namely living the spiritual life from the perspective of the steps.

"... absence of profit motive..."

"... And then, with a better motive, had we not worshipfully beheld the sunset, the sea, or a flower? Who of us had not loved something or somebody?"

"... But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are not sorry, and our conduct cotinues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink."

"... You should not hesitate to visit the most sordid spot on earth on such an errand. Keep on the firing line of life with these motives and God will keep you unharmed."

"On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives..."

So, setting the consideration of our motives aside, what does the spiritual life look like? Well, I think it looks like action.

Corny as it may seem, JOY... Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last is effective. It works. It's moral... yada yada. If you can get to that spot, great. Some folks do it without thought. That's just what they do.

These are the type of folks who perhaps don't need yearly inventory. But... what about the rest of us?

For me, doing the next right thing or helping someone else out is often something I don't want to do...something I may perhaps dread. But it often times leads to that feeling of peace and contentedness.

Sometimes doing the next right thing may feel like shit and not seem to lead anywhere. Have we ever placed ourselves in a position to become harmed or threatened? I sure have.

Could I say I may have done this due to a bad motive... a selfish one or one designed to get my way... to control and/or dominate another? This sort of thing has a way of happening to some folks. But we remember what the books says; "But our problems we think are of our own making."

I'm tired now. I hope this post makes sense to somebody somewhere.