The Pulse

I'm sure at some point you've had an email forwarded to you from a friend, warning you about some virus email which if you open it will cause world war three? I seem to get them sent through to me most weeks, the most recent being:

"While driving on a rural end of the roadway on Thursday morning, I saw an infant car seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it.  For whatever reason, I did not stop. But when I got to my destination, I called the  Police and they were going to check it out. But, this is what the Police advised even before they went out there to check....There are several things to be aware of ... gangs and thieves are now plotting different ways to get a person (mostly women)to stop their vehicle and get out of the car...."

However the story is nothing but a fake. More recently, many of you may have changed your facebook profile image to a cartoon in order to 'raise awareness' of the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). Whilst I am sure that the NSPCC is welcoming of the support, in actual fact the campaign originally started elsewhere as a way to relive childhood memories.

But, as I watched everyone and their best friend change their profile picture to a cartoon from their childhood, it made me think. I wonder how many of those who change their picture, actually made any sort of contribution to the work of the NCPCC (20p , 50p, £1). You see it struck me that we are often so quick to do the easy things that we think will make a difference. Forward a message (even if it's not true) to our mailbook, change our profile picture, spread a rumour. But when it comes to actually making a true commitment we never quite take the step. How hard would it have been, instead of just changing our profile picture on facebook, to log-on to the NSPCC website and commit to their work by giving a quid? How much time do your really need to commit in order to spend some time helping those who are not as well off as you? 1/2 hour a week?

As we get closer to Christmas I'm sure that we'll all be encouraged to think about the real meaning of the season. Of someone who was so commited to us that they gave all they had in order that we may be able to have everything. How will we respond? Will you do the facebook equivalent of changing our profile picture by going to church just on Christmas morning? Or will you  make a real change, make a real contribution, make a real commitment?