Some years ago, a priest friend urged me to return to a priest support group that all priests are encouraged to find and join. But as so often happens with everyone, priests get busy and we start missing the meetings. The leader of the group urged me to return. When I responded that I wasn’t sure I needed the group just then because I was supported in other ways, he said, “OK, then don’t return because you need it, but because we need you there.”
It’s not a bad way to think of things. Egocentrically, we tend to ponder what is best for us and forget that others may need us. We need to think of others, too.
The commercial below makes that point. It features a dog, and though I wish it had featured a person, I guess the dog is a good symbol for loyalty and need. Responsible drinking is important, not only for us, but for others who depend on us to be sober and to be alive the next day! Consider the message well, not only on the subject of safe driving, but also in other areas. Our lives matter to others, and even if we won’t take care of ourselves for our own sake, maybe we will for the sake of others.
Good to hear of this ; in these days of global outreach ,
having a network of prayer support , for families and individuals , supported by fees and donations , even as a means of funds for Congregations , might be an area that the upcoming Synod could look into .
Have heard of those who are so well gifted in discernment, that they can offer great help even by phone ; may be such avenues and training
made available to more might even be a real need of our times . groups such as the Knights of Malta
hopefully would step in , to organize and supervise !
God bless !
It’s neat, as well as fitting and proper, that you have such a resource.
Jesus started the first twelve step support group in the twelve apostles.
We not only need others to help us but, I believe from a number of years of experience, we need others who need our help.
When I’ve helped other people, as I shift from needing help to helping, I begin to experience the interaction from the other side. When I was sponsored through the Twelve Steps there came a (perceived by self) need to change sponsors. When I asked someone to be my new sponsor he asked if I was going to work the Steps and I replied in the affirmative. He then startled me by responding how much he looked forward to seeing the Steps from the other side.
During my progression into helping others, beginning to participating by being there and filling out the group, I began to see what a lopsided program I had. Going with a group on a prison visit led to there being a larger group. Had only a very small group showed up for the visit the inmates would have missed the validation that was a part of the purpose. Later at prisons, detoxes, a high school where I told my story and more – helping others (which was based on what I learned by a process of being the recipient of help) set the stage for me to progress to a newer level.
I am quite certain that I would never have stepped up onto this level had I not balanced my earlier, and lopsided, program by helping. The early lopsided balance I had could be held in balance by sheer effort because it was small but, needed balance once it grew so that the imbalance didn’t cause me to stagger off into a tangent and right off the track.
I like the way this (and some other) blogs don’t allow edit the was thingies like facebook do. When I’ve missed something of percieved significance here I’ve have had to do an add on (rather than a hardly noticed edit) which was a more honest portrayal of who I truly am and, helped me in my efforts to keep my ego tendencies from drawing me toward playing a sort of know-it-all guru.
Just another good reason, brothers, to join the Knights of Columbus. I’ve often thought, “The KC’s might not need me, but I need them.”
Clyde