May, 2008 – What are your “Choices”?  

We all like stories.  I have one I would like to share with you that illustrates the importance of making the right choice in lives for our happiness.  The scene of the story is a nursing home, where a 92-year old, petite, well poised man was waiting to be admitted to a nursing home even though he was legally blind.  His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making this move necessary.  He smiled as 2 people passed by.  As he maneuvered his way to the elevator that would take him to his room, he provided a description of the room including the linen sheets hanging out the window.  “I love it,” he stated with the enthusiasm of an 8-year old boy having been just presented with a new puppy. “Mr. Jones you haven’t even seen the room yet. “ It doesn’t matter; my happiness doesn’t depend on what the room is like, I have already pictured it in my mind.  I can make up my mind to like it or not, it doesn’t matter how the furniture is arranged, I have already decided to like it.  It’s how you choose reality.  I already decided to love it.  It’s a decision I make every morning.” 

 

Every morning, I have a choice.  I can spend the rest of the day in bed, moaning over the parts of my body that don’t work or I  an get out of bed and be thankful for those parts of my body that do work instead of focusing on those that don’t.  I have decided to be positive. That energizes me what choices energize you?

 

My challenge is to realize the role of choice in my life. What are your “Choices”? You can chose to live in the past or you can risk for the future .You can choose to focus on the good qualities of your work companion or his/her faults.  You can chose to focus on the weakness of SDC or you can chose to work toward its renewal, calling to mind the words of Fr. Jim Young, founder of the Divorce Ministry: “those that have gone before you for healing have a responsibility for those who come after them.”

 

Father Vince

Fr. Vince O'Brien, S.J. is the Chaplain for SDC.   He can be contacted at: Manresa Hall, 261 City Line Avenue, Merion Station, PA 19066 or (610) 660-1406.