Prophets and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.
They dress the deep wounds of my people
    as though they were not serious.
          – Jeremiah 6:13-14

Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Remember the movie, “What About Bob?” where Richard Dreyfuss plays the psychiatrist whose private life is hounded by the neurosis of one of his patients (Bill Murray)? In his attempts to bring Bob out of his multiple personality disorders, he gives him a copy of his newly released book, Baby Steps, which he promises will help Bob make his way towards normalcy.

I’m thinking of baby steps not out of bad behavior, but baby steps into bad behavior. Addictions are formed and justified over time by rationalization laid upon rationalization until the unthinkable becomes commonplace. We get there by taking baby steps in.

Are you taking any baby steps in to someplace you shouldn’t be, or don’t want to be in your heart for God? Now is the time to turn it around, not later. The beauty of AA is that it gives people moments of clarity when they can see what they are actually doing. You suddenly see yourself in the stories of other people who are ruining their lives. You see through the rationalizations that got you where you are. And you see the hope in those who are on their way out.

I think that, especially as believers, in our heart of hearts, we want to do what’s right. That’s because the Spirit of God is speaking to us from the inside. Ask Him to show you if you might be taking any baby steps towards something you really don’t want. AA has a saying, “Do the next right thing.” That’s a good word for all of us. Take baby steps away from evil, not baby steps in, at all times depending totally on the power of God to enable you, because no one can do this on their own.

Believe me, Step 9 is going to take courage to do the right thing. It, too, will take small steps to make amends to those we have harmed.