Giving credit where credit is due
Whether it’s recovery from a serious medical problem, escape from an impending disaster, or simply a second wind when it looked like they were down for the final count, people often say “God helped me through” or “God was looking out for me” or “if it wasn’t for the grace of God I would never have made it.”
Bullshit.
Human beings have been overcoming adversity for as long as we’ve been on this planet. We’ve done it through intelligence, hard work, and the sheer instinctual will to survive and improve the conditions of our lives. Prayer, by itself, has never helped anyone.
But a community of humans, bonded by compassion and love for their fellow human beings, can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and work together to build a better world. A human being in tune with their gifts can paint a masterpiece, compose the most beautiful music, or throw the winning pass for a touchdown. A single human being can change the entire world.
As nice as it might sound to true believers, God isn’t helping anyone to win Grammy awards or football games. Nor is he on the beaches of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka or Indonesia, rushing food and medical aid to the multitudes of tsunami victims.
People need to give credit to their own strength and resolve. YOU pulled yourself through. YOU found the will to continue. YOU did all the work and made it happen. All the prayer in the world will not rebuild shattered homes, restore ruined roads, or lift the hopes of a despondent and weary people.
Those of us in the humanist community know it is up to us, as commonly united citizens of the planet, to make things happen. We have to cure our sicknesss and disease; we have to put an end to wars and famine; we have to make this earthly home safe and prosperous for future generations.
Because let’s face it—God has never been interested in the job.