A family friend named Jack Brennan got sober in 1942 in the early days
of AA. He died in 1987 but I had the good fortune of knowing him in my
early days of sobriety. He used to group these three steps- 7, 8 & 9
together. It seemed weird to me - I thought that 4 & 5, 6 & 7, 8 & 9
went together in pairs.

He explained to me that Step 7 was preparing me for the next step. The
humility I needed to write an 8th Step list with a dose of reality
would come as a result of Step 7. And he was right - not for a moment
did I consider putting myself on that list - never mind at the top as
I hear shared in the rooms of AA today. If selfishness, self
centeredness was the root of my problem thinking I belong on that list
surely means I missed the whole point of Step 3 - never mind the steps
that followed.

Jim - Recovered!