I tried something new in my 11th step today.
Basil Pennington suggests asking God to help you chose a word or phrase from your morning reading to carry with you throughout the day.
So this morning, I hunted around in the Psalms for a while, trying to dig up something all by myself. When that didn’t work, I closed the book, asked for help, and opened to this phrase:
I am wrong.
God is a God of wisdom. That phrase came in handy all day long.
We took a trip to the beach, and as we were packing, my wife asked for my help carrying some things. My mood soured. I wanted to tell her to carry her own crap. Then, the phrase came and cleared my mind: I am wrong. Of course I could carry a few extra things.
At the beach, my son wanted me to stand with him while he played in the surf. I wanted to read my book. Why should I always have to do everything? Why didn’t my wife go and do it instead? I am wrong. He and I had a lot of fun running around together.
My wife started talking politics, and I wanted to bicker. I am wrong. We had a good conversation.
My son was shouting at the restaurant, and I wanted to be stern. I am wrong. I paid attention, and he lowered his voice.
I kept losing at cards. I am wrong. It was fun anyway.
It was a hassle getting all the sand off my son’s stuff.
A couple of drunks were acting up on the train.
I was all tired out and grumpy when we got home.
I am wrong. I am wrong. I am wrong.
I was wrong all day long.
God kept reminding me and putting things right again.
I remember hearing a story years ago in a meeting about a guy (let’s call him Ted) who put sticky notes all over his house. Each note carried the same message, so that every where he looked, he would read:
“You’re wrong, Ted.”
I’m on Ted’s side.
It’s better to know than to not know.
