Whaddya know?

Just got back from an AA meeting. The topic was ... (drumroll please) ... Acceptance. That elusive yet necessary THING that I need.

It's easy to say I "accept" a situation. Sure -- I accept everything. I'm just pissed off about the things I don't like. But that's the problem!

True acceptance requires growing into a spiritual state from which to view the world. When some old resentment creeps in and upsets me, that's an indication that I'm not in a healthy spiritual state. If I am in a healthy spiritual state when a resentment creeps in, I would feel peace concerning that resentment, rather than sadness or anger. It wouldn't bother me. I could smile, feel grateful, and move on with my day. So acceptance requires spiritual health.

The Bible has a list of things called the "Fruit of the Spirit". Basically, it means that if your life is producing these things right now, then you are living in a healthy spiritual state:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-Control

I think it's a good guide to help me approximate my spiritual health. Lately, my life has NOT been producing those attributes. So I need to step back and change my focus to a more spiritual direction. I think that this mysterious element of "Acceptance" (and ultimately, peace and happiness) depends on it.