That Doggone Book

Theory:  A description of an event or a system that is considered to be accurate.

The spiritual life is not a theory.  We have to live it.

Oh, shut up.  I prefer a carnal life.

Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he needs to do is keep sober.  "Don't see anything the matter here, Ma.  Ain't it grand the wind stopped blowin'?"

Yet another reminder that alcoholism is a spiritual disease and that while stopping drinking is a crucial first step it's at that point that the real work begins.

Apology:  An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another.

I used to be the first to apologize and the last to mean it.  Now I just never apologize.  It would be the admission of a fault or a slight or a bit of bad behavior and we all know I don't do these things.

There may be some wrongs we can never fully right.  We don't worry about them if we can honestly say to ourselves that we would right them if we could.  

A good reminder that the amends process usually includes some instances where we can't remedy the destruction caused by some bad behavior.  Sometimes people won't forgive us.  Sometimes we've behaved so badly that a relationship or circumstance is irrevocably damaged.  I got fired several times before sobriety and kicked out of college once, and no one ever urged me to come back when I got sober.

We should be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble without being servile or scraping.  As God's people we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before anyone.

I remind people of this all the time if I see them beating the shit out of themselves.  Apologize with honest and heartfelt sincerity once.  Apologize twice if you have to which you will have to.  Maybe one more time if the relationship is especially important or the mistake is particularly egregious.  But then it's enough already.  Unless you're an ax murderer who still has the ax.