Tuesday Morning

I accidentally slept until 6:31 this morning.  I woke up when I heard my daughter start her shower.  For me to be sitting here at 7 a.m., still mostly asleep, needing to be out of here in a half hour or hour is just crazy.

Last night at Biblical School, our instructor was talking about a fabulous book, and he did have several on hand to sell if we wanted one.  One of my fellow students jumped up, and said he would buy them all for Christmas presents for us!  He coughed up nearly $200., and passed out the books, to the glee of the recipients.  But after he sat down, I watched him. He is an older man - which at this point might mean he is my age or slightly older - and I have never been in a group with him, so I don't know him, but I have seen him every Monday night for a year and a half.  Last night I saw his face transformed into something beautiful.  Giving to others without expectation is about the best transformative therapy in the world!

It reminded me of learning this in AA.  So many years ago.  They always talked about doing something for someone else and not getting caught.  We would buy groceries and leave them on doorsteps, put a $20 bill in someone's pocket, or left in an envelope on the bulletin board of the club, etc.  I was often the recipient of others' good will when times turned hard for me.  One year, I opened my door to find a Christmas tree standing there.  Or I would find an envelope with $50 or $100 in my mailbox.  Anonymous.  

Do people still talk about this?  Do people still do this?  I go to groups now in a relatively affluent part of town.  I wonder if this is why I don't hear anything about the anonymous bags of groceries.  Or maybe we have lost our way and we are all about feeling good ourselves.... maybe.  I hope not.