An EDA Member Works the Steps (Big Book 521-522)

Step Eleven: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.

Step Eleven reminds me daily that my life is not all about me—which is a good thing! This perspective helps me move past my ups and downs to why I am here at all. The “Big Book” of AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, states on page 77 that, “Our primary purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and our fellows.” I believe that everything I experience in life helps prepare me to be of better and more useful service, provided I let go of my expectations and allow myself to be shaped and molded into something better than I was before. I surrender to this process every day, looking for what is good and right about the people I live and work with, and what is good and right about how I choose to respond to whatever comes up. I am often somewhat (and sometimes very) disappointed in myself and others, but this does not diminish my faith in the process or my commitment to serving a greater purpose.