Monday, December 24, 2012

Respecting Others.

When I see someone sneer at a member who is crashing about in pain amd sorrow, unable to follow the social niceties, seeking only comfort, I feel a sad and tired anger. We are all the same, we breathe, we eat, we long for love.

When you turn to another person and feel superior because you are not suffering enough to make a fuss, you are negating their personhood.  This life is short, and we can spend it enamelled into our self-chosen categories of "Us" against "Them" but we are fooling ourselves if we think we are living life in any better way than the one beside us.

This season speaks to loving one another, as does our program. It isn't always easy or comfortable to reach out to say, "I see you, I hear you, I am here with you, I understand your pain" but that's what Bill W started trying to do.

Please, don't look for differences in the faces around the table, look for your common ground.

3 comments:

  1. So very true. Sadly, people are still prejudiced against those who are "different" whether it be color, a mental illness or a physical deformity. I wish that we could let those things go for just one day.

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  2. Hi there! Just wanted to say "Hi" and tell you I'm a new follower to this blog. I haven't yet worked up the courage to go to al-anon, so I am trying me best to connect with those who are in it :)

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