Many people (myself included) spend very little time, if any, on Step 6: “We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” We think, “Hey! I was over ready when I first got into recovery!” or “I have been ready and eager at Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Why do I have to be ready again?”
Why does Step 6 ask us to be entirely ready?
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions tells us that this is the step that separates the men from the boys. After doing Steps 1-3 and taking inventory in Step 4 a lot of ground has been covered. We become aware of our defects which have so deeply affected our lives. Some are overwhelmed by the results of this inventory thinking that to clean house is well beyond their abilities.
Others are so comfortable with their defects they gloss over them; try to minimize them or disguise them as something less than a true defect. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions comments: “What we must recognize now is that we exult in some of our defects. We really love them. who, for example doesn’t like to feel just a little superior to the next fellow, or even quite a lot superior? Isn’t it true that we like to let greed masquerade as ambition? To think of liking lust seems impossible. But how many men and women speak love with their lips, and believe what they say, so that they can hide lust in a dark corner of their minds? And even while staying within conventional bounds, many people have to admit that their imaginary sex excursions are apt to be all dressed up as dreams of
romance.”
Take another look at your inventory in the light of Step 6. Look at each defect and ask yourself, “Am I entirely ready to have God remove this defect of character?” Ask yourself if you are minimizing any one of these defects making it less important than it really is.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by your defects, remember, you do not do this alone! You are handing this over to the care of God. Say the prayer suggested in Alcoholics Anonymous (aka The Big Book pg. 76) “My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”
Give God all of yourself, good and bad. Do not hold anything back! Ask Him to remove these things from your life which stand in the way of your wholeness.