“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care
for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained
by the world.” (James 1:27)
A student asked the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead what the first sign
of civilization in culture was. The student expected her to talk about religious
artifacts, hunting tools, clay pots, or grinding stones. Mead said the first sign
of civilization was a healed femur found in an archaeological site that was
15,000 years old. She explained that in the natural world a broken leg meant
death. Yet someone had protected this person, carried him to safety, and
brought him water and food for six weeks until his legbone healed. “Helping
someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts,” Margaret Mead
said.
Jesus taught us to help those in need. In his epistle James emphasized helping
the poor. Those in need appreciate your gifts to Caritas, Angel Tree,
Thanksgiving meals for Veterans, the Benevolence Fund, and helping victims
of Hurricane Ian. Thank you for making a difference.
Dr. Sam
