Heard this in a meeting tonight: If it's not love, it's not God. To which I surprised myself (and startled a few people around me) by murmuring "Amen."
Compassion is a very different thing than pity. The former contains love, the latter, perhaps a bit of arrogance -- so if I'm feeling pity instead of compassion (and I grant you, it can be an exercise in navel gazing to get too entangled in sorting them out, but still, it's worth considering) then I should check myself.
Giving love, in the form of sincere kindness, is such a powerful healing force for the giver that it actually does not matter how it is received when offered.
Gratitude is a form of prayer -- sometimes for me the most enlightened one.
In some circumstances the best suggestion is one I used to hear quite often in meetings when I was newly sober: Drop the rock. (The weren't talking to me of course... just people I was standing near. I'm sure of it.)
Eleanor Roosevelt was famous for saying that "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." I thing a recovered riff on that is "Nothing can make you feel ungrateful without your participation."
Let's just keep listening.
Posted by: dAAve | September 23, 2011 at 02:43 AM
I read every day... I don't comment .... I hope you have some electronic way of knowing how many are reading and how many you are helping.... Thanks, a lot
Posted by: bob | September 23, 2011 at 03:42 AM
Yes, I look forward to your posts too. You have such a wonderful gift.
Some days I check in as early as I think you will have posted.
Other days I am busy and I suddenly remember I have a post to read, what a treat.
Posted by: Daisy Anon | September 23, 2011 at 04:07 AM
Just thought I'd echo these previous comments---thank Mr. SP for adding value to our lives through your blog and with your service! :)
Posted by: Jeff | September 23, 2011 at 05:05 AM
"Gratitude is a form of prayer"
Thank you for that.
Posted by: Robert Givens | September 23, 2011 at 06:18 AM