If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭20

This business of resentment is, as recovery literature states, “infinitely grave”.

Grudges cling underneath our thoughts leeching happiness right out from underneath us.

We arrive to a sober world with a lot of habits from our drinking that don’t at first seem totally wrong.

Why shouldn’t we stay upset when we are wronged? Why shouldn’t we demand—even secretly—that others walk the straight and narrow when certain things are concerned?

Truly, our deepest hurts are justified at least in part. Why does our newfound sobriety supposedly depend on us dropping the issue?

The simplest way to see the truth is to take another analogy from the Big Book. Resentments cut us off from the sunlight of the Spirit.

We simply cannot grow or heal or flourish in the dark.

Despite our protestations and the seeming acceptance of anything by the world around us, there really is good and evil, light and dark.

There are shades of grey in different experiences, but I would do well to remember that I am now trying to live in the light, not examine the nuances of where the lines are.

God, keep me in the light, keep me free of resentments.