Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Big Book, pg. 76 "Now we need more action, without which we find that "Faith without works is dead." Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine. We have a list of ALL persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self-appraisal. NOW we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past. We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of OUR effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven't the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to ANY LENGTHS for victory over alcohol."
A few times now we've read the quote, "Faith without works is dead." Apologies in advance, this is a Biblical reference, Book of James, 2:14-26. The Bible, whether you look at it as religious text or simply historical literature, is replete with commentary, analogies, and metaphors on moral behavior. It's written here to establish the connection between belief and action, in other words, faith and works. All of the actions we take in life are born upon what we believe to be true. “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works”. Action (works) is born out of belief (faith), and faith without works is dead. If you have faith, but no works, you simply cannot demonstrate to another that you have faith. To earn the promises, the rewards of the program of recovery, we must have works (actions). Another way to say this is, if what you say you believe does not result in action, you probably don't really believe it. Faith without works is dead. The list we make in Step 8 is the basis for the actions we will take in Step 9 to demonstrate to others through our works in our own faith that our Creator can and will make changes for us in our lives.
Just as we discussed in earlier steps, make your list in Step 8 without any regard to Step 9. Notice that the word ALL is mentioned twice in this step. It does not say, "Only make a list of those amends you intend to actually do." It is often recommended to break your list up in to several categories: amends I can make now; amends I'm willing to make but not now; and amends I'm not now willing to ever make (this group we'll pray for).
Write your list out in Step 8 separately from your inventory pages focusing in on those whom you have harmed.
The second part of this step, "If we haven't the will to do this, we ask until it comes." is done through prayer. Add to your daily/regular prayer a request for the willingness to make amends to those you've done harm even if you now believe you'll never actually make those amends. This is a lifetime journey and you may find that at some time in the future God will create for you both the opportunity and the willingness to clear that line on your ledger.
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