PURIM

FEAST OF LOTS
Tolerance is essential to a continual growth in recovery from addiction. Within the ever expanding circle of sober-living people we meet different lifestyles, faiths, and creeds. Our common goal is a desire to not drink, not drug or not participate in behavior that is unyielding to the one we call God. In this solidarity of purpose lies the strength of recovery programs. Bias and prejudice are unacceptable components within our developing spiritual lives.

Purim is a Jewish celebration commemorating the deliverance of the Jews of Persia from Haman, prime minister of King Xerxes I who reigned from 485 BC to 465 BC. The account is recorded in the Book of Esther. The festival is also called Feast of Lots because Haman chose his day of treachery by casting lots. It is one of many historical attempts to annihilate an entire population based on creed.

My personal celebration of this day includes an increased awareness and appreciation of our multi-cultured world in which each has a piece of the survival puzzle. Our political leaders and our spiritual leaders no longer have the luxury of living in isolationist philosophies that antagonize and demonize faiths of differing philosophies. The entity which is the God of my understanding does not distinguish between Christian, Jew, Muslim, and Buddhist. Each has a messenger bearing a pearl of truth.