Wow. The letter below may be one of the most powerful letters I’ve received…
I recently received it (hand written) in the mail. I had to read it several times because I didn’t quite understand what it was saying. Perhaps, it’s because the gift of “confession” is something that’s so foreign in our society and our churches (including the church I pastor).
Perhaps, it’s because we take our shots and jabs at most anything that smells of the elevation of morality. But…
Moral inventory.
I was inspired and convicted by the letter because it’s easy for us to diagnose or take a moral inventory for the sake of taking a moral inventory but it takes courage (and grace) to act upon those revelations we receive.
Dear Eugene Cho,
I am a former member of your church in the early 80’s. Over a period of one summer, I cleaned the church while there was a need in between custodial help (I was a teacher with summers free).
Recently while taking a moral inventory while engaging in the 12 steps, it came to my consciousness that I had at some point padded my hours.
Enclosed please find a check in the amount of $200 to repay money that I did not earn plus interest.
Trying to follow God’s leading in all areas of my life.
– signed
Wow.
EUGENE CHO 
One of the next steps after taking a moral inventory, sharing it with a sponsor, and becoming ready to make amends to those you have harmed, is actually making those amends. It looks like this person is working hard at his/her recovery and you were on his/her amends list.
I think the twelve steps can be very powerful, and for me it has helped when Christianity couldn’t. Christ-followers could gain a lot from stopping to recognize and learn from the honesty and humility that the twelve step programs are based on. It’s easy sometimes to discount something because it’s not “Christian,” but sometimes the “outsiders” get it right better than Christianity does. I had to let go of my Christian pride in order to venture into another “solution” if you will in the twelve step tradition. What do you know but it actually helped me live as Christ would have me anyway?
The letter is truly beautiful. What would happen if we all learned to live like that? I think it would look a lot like following Christ.
Thanks for sharing,
Sara
A beautiful letter. The 12 steps is a practical process by which we continue the process of sanctification. Unfortunately, many bible studies and accountability groups in the church, do not provide people with the handle bars they need to live out their faith when it comes to a situation such as the one above. Thanks for sharing this.
Wow! That is quite inspiring
Looks like the idea’s catching on:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/22/AR2010122203205.html?wprss=rss_nation/wires&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=main-twitter
Causes me to take an inventory of my own. Very inspiring.
Wow. How powerful. Can you imagine if that happened in the corporate life what sort of revolution might take place? The power of grace is amazing!
I wish I could be that honest and transparent for past transgressions. I wish I was courageous enough to own up.