We also have to keep in mind that the time element has changed since
the book was written and there is the real appearaance of a new list
being generated. This is not how it was envisioned. On page 118 we
get an idea as to how long this process was to have taken place:

"Another feeling we are very likely to entertain is one of resentment
that love and loyalty could not cure our husbands of alcoholism. We
do not like the thought that the contents of a book or the work of
another alcoholic has accomplished in a few weeks that for which we
struggled for years." From Chapter 8 - To Wives

A few weeks...far cry from the years most alcoholics take to do the
steps today. So the time that elapsed between steps 4 and 8 would
probably be a week or two back in 1939. This makes the following
quote that much more meaningful:

"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". That drastic self appraisal was our
inventory in step 4 - so the list is really already in hand - we may
have to tweak it some but is should already exist.

Jim - Recovered!

--- In We_Have_Recovered@yahoogroups.com, "Paul S." <soberfinn@...>
wrote:
>
>
> Hi Jim and all (Hmm? Where is all?)
>
> An interesting point.
> However "it says" that we made the list in step 4.
> But offcource, perhaps it was incomplete.
> Anyway the help from step 7 can/may be important
> on order to achieve the willingness in step 8.
>
> So the list in step 4 is not a done deal.
> Step 8 is a real and important step
>
> And offcource I never put myself on that list.
> The grace of God (of my understanding) has
> given me more than I expected.
>
> Just my 5 cents (the extra 3 for my bad english)
>
> All the best
>
> Paul S. aka soberfinn
> Recovered from a seemingly.....yoy know
>
>
>
>
> --- In We_Have_Recovered@yahoogroups.com, "Jim K." <jknyc@> wrote:
> >
> > 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!
> >
>