“When I fall into my old habits of self-pity and reproaching, my relapse is just as involuntary and forgivable as that of the alcoholic.” (ODAT, 26 May)
The relapse is involuntary but the creation of the conditions in which the relapse was inevitable were voluntary.
I’ve never said a mean thing whilst praying, for instance.
I’m the one choosing to pray or not to pray.
If I choose not to pray, I find myself involuntarily saying something I shouldn’t.
But I can voluntarily choose to pray.