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An alcoholic with a resentment is like a suicide bomber. Only, the suicide bomber knows what he is doing.

- Sally Mark.

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Heard the above this morning as we discussed the 4th step. I, and most of the room, laughed. It came up after I had shared about my previous inability to "forgive". Working the fourth and fifth steps I am more able to forgive people because I learned much of my poor behavior was pure ignorance. Given that, it is highly probable that those who have harmed me were also ignorant of their own behavior. Even if they were not, then they most likely operated out of fear, or some other character defect. So, again, I can forgive more easily because I know how difficult it can be not to succumb to character defects. Prior to learning how to forgive, I continually self destructed and often hurt those around me, not unlike a suicide bomber. Today, I have the twelve steps to guide my life. I no longer have to "explode". Of course, I sometimes still burst, but it is a firecracker in comparison.