Friday, July 23, 2010

Life's persistent and most urgent questions

It is Friday and inspite of the humidity I am looking forward to the weekend. Presently, I am reading a very inspiring book entitled, The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen. I heard about it on NPR the day after I returned from our parish mission trip in Mandeville, Jamaica. The book was the result of 14 year old Hannah who had a eureka moment. Seeing a homeless man in her neighborhood at the same instant she spotted a man driving a Mercedes, she said, "Dad, if that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal." From there the family invested together in living on half. It is a powerful story of one family's decision to stop taking and start giving back. I would highly recommend it. If you do, let me know what you think?

Which leads me to a question that I have been pondering. It is a question that always makes me stop and evaluate my life.It was proposed by a man who made a difference in the lives of many people. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr once stated, "Every person must decide whether they will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life's persistent and most urgent question is 'What are you doing for other?'"

I was blessed today as Sister Mary Timothyand I went to our Villa after breakfast to present a gift to our Powerhouse of Prayer Partner, Sr. Helen Ann, who will celebrate her patron saint, St. Anne, on July 26th. She was delighted and delightful! I already feel the effect of her prayer. We stopped to visit a few other sisters, and the last one said, "Thank you so much, you don't know how much your visit means to an old lady!" Actually, Sister, I need to thank you. I received much more than I gave.

Isn't that what always happens. What are YOU doing for others?

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