January 7: Day 7

STEP ONE CONTINUED
 
We recognize we have been hurt, disappointed, or abused by religion or the religious.
 
Instruction: Ask to be corrected.
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When I decided to take up the hobby of flying radio controlled airplanes, I was fortunate to have a local club that offered instruction for beginners. In fact, new members were not permitted to use the field until they passed a course. During one of my early flights, my instructor noted that when I corrected the plane I would give too much correction. This caused me to have to correct in the opposite direction, which created a back-and-forth flight path. He suggested I make smaller corrections for a shorter duration and allow the plane to catch up to the new input.

For those who are in need of spiritual instruction or guidance, it helps to keep an open mind and accept corrections when they are needed. Religions that seem to specialize in sin and shame have often overused the correction process and labeled any “sin” to be a fatal crash from which there was little hope of recovery. Because we have asked for protection, chances are that if we are looking for a spiritual instructor, we will be led to the right individual at the right time. Sometimes that happens through the words of a book. Be open to correction, and I suggest making little corrections to start with and give it time to see how it affects the course of your spiritual flight.

In addition, remember that there are those who might take advantage of your desire to learn. Unscrupulous individuals are apt to seek those who they can influence and place under their control. Even well-intentioned individuals sometimes fall to the temptation of power and control, and sometimes these people will use us to their own advancement — or seeming advancement. During these times of correction, be sure to listen carefully to what your instincts tell you. A lot of heartache can be avoided by simply trusting our inner voice of wisdom and discernment.

Today’s Assignment is to develop your instincts, and be open to correction. Remember that correction doesn’t have to be a negative word. It fact, correction can save you from a lot of pain and trouble if you learn to apply it sooner rather than later.