Month: December 2014

A Christmas Prayer For Those Less Fortunate

Another Christmas has finally arrived, where plenty of warm homes will see children delightfully ripping open presents with excitement and glee. Just as much as I’m sure there will be many others where only grown-ups will be exchanging presents with each other as well. Soon bellies will also be full for both the young and the old from those large holiday meals.

But what about those on this day who have no place to call home and are out there roaming the streets?

And what about those that have a home but with no food to put on their table today?

And what about those that had no money to buy their children or loved ones any gifts to open today?

And what about those that have nobody to spend today with at all?

It’s so easy to forget about anyone who is less fortunate than ourselves while soaking up all that we have on days like today. I personally remember a very lonely December 25th spent in a Chinese restaurant, ultimately friendless and present-less. I’m grateful I’m not in that place in life anymore, given I have a partner that I love dearly who I’ll be spending this day with, as well as with many others in recovery I’ll be seeing at various Christmas parties I attend. But my heart is still saddened for all those on this day who may not have anyone or anything at all to look forward to. Thus, I feel led to write a prayer today for all those who may be less fortunate than myself, which I truly hope will inspire you to send out your own prayers for them as well…

“Dear God, I pray for all of those out there today that may be homeless. May you guide each of them to places where they are embraced and kept warm. I pray for all of those today that may not have a single gift to open as well. May you provide each of them the best gift of all, which is an abundance of your unconditional love. I pray for all of those today too that may not have any food whatsoever to put on their table. May you lead each of them to places that will give them a bountiful and delicious meal for free. And lastly, I pray for all of those today that are lonely and have no one to spend it with at all. May you bring each of them some loving companionship, as I don’t believe you would want any of your children to be alone on this special day. Please bless us all God and help us to be grateful for what we have today and not what we don’t, and please bless those who may be less fortunate than ourselves, as they too deserve everything each of us have in life as well. I’m truly grateful for my own life God and for what I’ve been given. Thank You for everything and Merry Christmas! Amen.”

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson

“Serendipity”, A Movie That Truly Stirs The Heart

It’s the day before Christmas and thankfully not one I’ll be spending the majority of running around doing last minute shopping. Instead, I’m going to enjoy spending it with my partner relaxing at home having an early holiday meal and then watching my most favorite romantic movie that I put into my DVD player each year just before December 25th arrives. What is that movie? Serendipity.

I guess you could say that Serendipity was not actually geared as a Christmas movie when it first came out given much of it takes place during other times of the year. But, since its first scene takes place during the busy Christmas shopping season at Bloomingdales in New York City, it’s become that to me. When this film was actually released in late October of 2001, the world had just gone through some very trying times with the events of 9/11. My own heart had been extremely heavy because of this and I hadn’t felt very Christmassy because of it. But there was something quite magical about the film that after its brief running time of 90 minutes had passed, I had been stirred enough to bring the holiday spirit back into my heart.

The movie itself revolves around John Cusack as Jonathan Trager and Kate Beckinsale as Sara Thomas, who may possibly be two star-crossed lovers destined to be together, but in the Universe’s own unique way. Their story unfolds as each reach for an expensive pair of gloves at the same exact time in the famed department store in lower Manhattan. With one glove in each other’s hand, a moment is shared between the two that becomes enough of a catalyst for them to spend the rest of the day together. Sara invites John to her favorite spot in the Upper East Side, which is a boutique restaurant and dessert shop of the same name as the movie, Serendipity. Jonathan asks why the place is so special to her, which Sara responds it’s in the name itself. She says the name means when things happen by chance and cause good luck or fortune for an individual. Jonathan playfully banters how the pair of gloves was “serendipitous” for the two of them, even though he’s engaged and soon to be married. Sara is obviously flattered but admits to having a boyfriend as well. When their day comes to a close, it’s apparent they have a certain chemistry lacking in their own respective relationships. But when Jonathan eventually asks for her number, fate seems to intervene when the wind suddenly wisps it out of hands and away into a sea of others. Jonathan tries his best to convince her it’s not a sign, but Sara’s quite adamant it most definitely is. Seeing how Sara places so much on the word “Serendipity”, he agrees to another exchange of numbers, but this time in a very strange way. Jonathan is to write his name and number down on a five-dollar bill and she on the inside of her favorite book, Love In The Time Of Cholera. After buying a pack of mints with the money his information is now on, she says she’ll donate her book to one of the local used bookstores tomorrow. Hence the premise of this movie truly begins. Will the five-dollar bill find its way back into her hands? Will the book make its way back into his?

I have watched Serendipity countless times now since I first was enthralled by its charm in the theater all those years ago. Maybe that’s because I ultimately believe God operates in the same type of mysterious ways with each of us or maybe it’s because my heart moves so incredibly every time my eyes and ears are entertained when its playing. Either way, Serendipity is a magical movie that has managed to become a regular part of my life each year. So I look forward to watching it again tonight with my partner, as I know it will once again truly stir my heart and bring out more of that festive holiday spirit…

Have a great Christmas Eve everyone!

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson

The Growing Impersonalness Of Social Media

Pretty soon, most people alive aren’t going to remember the days when texting, Facebook messaging, and tweeting didn’t exist. While each of these things have on some level made life a lot simpler to communicate for so many, I’m saddened because they have also been the sole reason why people are becoming more and more impersonal with each other these days.

I say all this because of a recent incident where I called my former alcohol and drug counselor from my alma mater. She was the first on my path to guiding me towards a life of sobriety and will forever hold a place in my heart. I left her a nice message on her voicemail the other day and asked her to ring me when she could, as I really wanted to hear her voice again. Days later, I finally received a response via text message saying not much more than how busy she was and how she hoped that I was well. When I responded to the text and asked her the best time to talk over the phone, I never got a reply.

This isn’t an isolated incident either with the impersonal side that social media brings nowadays. There are plenty of past Happy Birthday greetings I’ve received on Facebook or in a text message where when I’ve called the majority of them to hear their voice, I got voicemail recordings instead. Then there are also the times I’ve been sick or ailing from a health issue that have resulted in similar results. And I can’t forget all the Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and various other holiday greetings that come in the form of two words in the same fashion.

I know I can’t speak for the rest of the population, but I sure can speak for myself in saying that I treasure actually hearing someone’s voice on my birthday wishing me a happy one. I treasure actually hearing a person’s voice telling me they’re praying for me and hoping I feel better when I’m not doing so well. I treasure actually hearing a loved one’s voice over the phone that I haven’t spoken with in ages. I honestly just really treasure actually hearing a voice rather than receiving a text or some other type of social media message no matter what the occasion.

Society is truly becoming more and more impersonal, and selfish and self-centered because of this trend. Almost gone now are those days when most people took the time to pick up a phone and connect with a loved one, a friend, or anyone for that matter. Actions likes this are now considered to be an inconvenience for a vast amount of the population it seems. And in all honesty, every time I’ve ever resorted to using social media to connect with someone on their birthday, a holiday, whether they were sick, or for some other reason was generally because I cared more about myself, and my selfish needs, then actually taking a few moments of my time to do a selfless action like calling someone.

So with Christmas looming around the corner just a few days from now, the best thing I know I can do to counteract this downward spiral in personal communication is to pick up the phone and call each of those I care about. I truly believe that action will be far more spiritual, selfless, and connecting than any of the ones that would involve me sending a few bits and bytes across the digital realm. And hopefully each of you will also join me this holiday season in trying to reverse this growing impersonal trend before we all forget the importance of close human interaction.

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson