It's the time of year for gratitude, thankfulness for everyone, but it is always that time of year for those of us who have died and come back from our prior existence.
The religious and we in AA tend to speak of gratitude often. And there is a lot of "well wishing" which is absolutely a positive thing. We can all use a lot more positivity in our lives, right? Often at AA meetings we do a "can we send prayers out to anyone" and people will throw out some names of people they know that are "sick and suffering" in varying degrees. Again, all very positive things.
However...
The Christian Bible makes it clear that "faith without works, is dead" (worded differently in different flavors of the Bible) we have all heard this paraphrasing I'm sure. The rest of that verse is what I find very interesting. It goes on to say (again, in varying wordage)
" What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16. and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
So basically, if you're just well wishing, you're not really doing anything for anyone. Not very spiritual.
I'm not calling into question the validity of the bible's teachings (or rather passing along) of basic good humanism.
I am saying, let's all start today by actually doing something for someone who needs it. Whether it's some warm socks and a bowl of soup or picking them up and taking them out for coffee or volunteering at a shelter.
Please feel free to comment on something you are doing or have done that is nice for someone in need. AA tells us that if you do something nice for someone that it "doesn't count". I call complete bĂĽllshit" on this. I think doing good for people is contagious. Like a cold. But nobody is gonna catch it if they aren't exposed to it.
Let's all catch a cold together.
Have a good holiday with all of your friends/family, however you spend it.
"Fonzie be with you".
-t