Every Dark Cranny
Pg. 75, paragraph 2 of the Big Book:
“We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past. Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us.”
This excerpt is full of golden nuggets. Let’s look at it bit by bit.
If we DON’T put away our pride we will never be able to sort through the mess we’ve made of our lives and ourselves. We just can’t. So, we take every ounce of it and pocket it away to begin our work.
We have to shine the light on every slice of our lives, character, attitudes, behaviorsthe whole pie! This will allow us to go into “every dark cranny” and clear out the rubbish. This will leave a clean slate on which to build our new lives/selves. If we don’t keep any part of it back in the end we WILL be joyous, thrilled, and finally, after so many years of embarrassment, be able to “look the world in the eye.” It is a great joy for me to be able to look at myself in the mirror each day. I no longer look away, cringe, or glare. My shoulders are back, my head held high, and a look of pride on my face.
I am at peace.
I no longer feel uncomfortable in my own skin.
I am no longer afraid.
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What about you? Have you searched every dark cranny? Are you at peace? Are you still afraid?