The Night No One Came
 

The Night No One Came by Julie Ackerman Link

Do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. —Matthew 6:1

One winter night composer Johann Sebastian Bach was scheduled to debut a new composition. He arrived at the church expecting it to be full. Instead, he learned that no one had come. Without missing a beat, Bach told his musicians that they would still perform as planned. They took their places, Bach raised his baton, and soon the empty church was filled with magnificent music.

This story made me do some soul-searching. Would I write if God were my only audience? How would my writing be different?

New writers are often advised to visualize one person they are writing to as a way of staying focused. I do this when I write devotionals; I try to keep readers in mind because I want to say something they will want to read and that will help them on their spiritual journey.

I doubt that the “devotional writer” David, whose psalms we turn to for comfort and encouragement, had “readers” in mind. The only audience he had in mind was God.

Whether our “deeds,” mentioned in Matthew 6, are works of art or acts of service, we should keep in mind that they’re really between us and God. Whether or not anyone else sees does not matter. He is our audience.
That my ways might show forth Your glory,
That You, dear Lord, greatly deserve!
With Your precious blood You’ve redeemed me—
In all my days, You I would serve! —Somerville

Serve for an audience of one.

WOW!!! how inspiring!!!

The program suggests that our deeds be anonymous. If someone finds out about them, they do not count.

At first, I didn't care who knew I was in recovery, be they inside or outside of the fellowship, because I was known for a 50 mile radius when I was using.

I try to keep the anonymity of others, and my own when needed, because it doesn't do good to do and then talk and walk a different story. For me, I don't speak for AA, NA, or Al-Anon, it is my interpretation of what I heard, seen, and learned from these fellowships, along with my journey with my God in attendance. I try to pick Him up at the beginning of the day and give thanks for His Presence, Guidance, Love, etc. as shown to me that day. When I wake up the next morning, I do the same and He become the God as He reveals Himself to me in today.

When I think of the title, "No one came" I think, no one may show up, but as long as I do, I stay clean and sober. If no one is there, I can always have a time with my Higher Power and have a little chat and share with Him/Her.