Not Defiance

Belief meant reliance, not defiance. ~ Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 31. Belief. An opinion, a view, an achievement of logic to accept a premise. Shall we discuss, debate, analyze, flesh out? Colleagues collaborating, equals scrutinizing. But belief as tenet, canon, creed, eternal truth... Not equals mutually benefited but a benevolent suzerain with nothing to gain save satisfaction, delight, pleasure in the thrall's growth. When I stop telling the object of my belief the course to take, when I begin to listen and obey then both liege-lord and liege advance.