Recently I reread Mitch Albom’s thought provoking book - “Tuesdays With Morrie”. Mitch Albom was an accomplished sports writer but felt his life was lacking something! He happened to watch a television interview with his former university professor, Morrie Schwartz and felt compelled to reconnect with his teacher and friend. Morrie was struggling with Lou Gehrig’s disease. The book describes their conversations - every Tuesday for several weeks - conversations about death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness and what it means to live a meaningful life.

I’ve read this little book several times and every time it speaks to me. It speaks to me about the importance of having people in my life who are with me for the long haul. It speaks to me about the importance of my faith - keeping it strong through all the twists and turns of life. It speaks to me of being open to discuss uncomfortable things. It speaks to me of walking with others through their afflictions. It just speaks.

It’s a tiny book and doesn’t take long to read but I found myself rereading the words - jotting them down in my journal - chewing on them - digesting them - taking them to heart.

Here’s a quote Morrie said to Mitch on one of those Tuesday mornings!

“DYING IS ONLY ONE THING TO BE SAD OVER. LIVING UNHAPPILY IS SOMETHING ELSE. SO MANY PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT ME ARE UNHAPPY.”

“Happiness does not depend on circumstances.” I wrote these words on August 21, 2014 - one month after Randy passed away - “My confidence and joy is not in myself or my circumstances but in Jesus. His promise is to be with me in all things. It is God’s power that enables me to continue in this journey - called life.” Each day I have the choice to live with a joy-filled sense of gratefulness or with a pessimistic, miserable attitude. If I focus on the circumstances of this world, it would be easy to slip into a measure of gloom and doom and certainly, there is a lot of misery and doubt and unhappiness all around us that is pretty messy and discouraging right now. BUT - when we live and do all things with grace and gratefulness - when we live in the midst of this crooked and twisted generation, we shine as lights. Lights are intended for guidance to help those in the dark. Lights are intended for warning - warning of living lives that lead to bitterness and regret. Lights are intended to cheer others on. So I choose to live an abundant and fulfilling life - spreading joy - speaking encouragement - sharing someone’s heavy load - answering a cutting word with gentleness and grace - smiling for those who can’t. I don’t do this in my own power - Psalm 121:1,2 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord.” Only through the power of God in our lives are we able to live a joy-filled life in these days of uncertainty and change.

Here’s another quote from Morrie to Mitch!

“SO MANY PEOPLE WALK AROUND WITH A MEANINGLESS LIFE. THEY SEEM HALF ASLEEP, EVEN WHEN THEY’RE BUSY DOING THINGS THEY THINK ARE IMPORTANT. THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE CHASING THE WRONG THINGS. THE WAY YOU GET MEANING INTO YOUR LIFE IS TO DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO LOVING OTHERS; DEVOTE YOURSELF TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND YOU AND TO DEVOTE YOURSELF TO CREATING SOMETHING THAT GIVES YOU PURPOSE AND MEANING.”

I had always thought that I would be and really desired to be a motivational speaker for conferences - national and international. I thought I’d be good at it. I wanted it but it never happened for me. Instead I find myself having coffee or lunch with one or two girlfriends - hosting a tiny group of women in my home for a bible study and conversation - chatting on the phone weekly with my (older) sisters and brothers - things that certainly don’t make the front page of google news or People’s magazine. I believe each one of us have gifts and a purpose - mine was and is - tend to my family - tend to my friends, both near and far - and to be a blessing to those I meet randomly. My sons are long grown, now with lovely wives and children of their own. My job of raising my sons is long over and yet it’s not. They are ever on my mind. One hundred times a day my mind wanders to their homes - I picture them waking up - parents drinking their first cup of coffee and kids chattering at the breakfast table - the normal and natural conversations of parents with their children for the daily reminders. I see one son - editing his photos for anxious brides and getting disc golf courses installed in every city in Ontario. I see another son heading to the office to prepare his weekly sermon and deal with the goings on in his church. I see my other son guiding the students at his high school and encouraging them to have purpose in their lives. I picture my grandchildren at their schools. Are they happy today? Are they understanding their lessons? Are their teachers frazzled with a classroom of very different personalities. I imagine my d-i-l’s at their jobs and in their homes - balancing both, with love and competence. So what do I do?

I pray!

I send packages in the mail!

I text!

Oh yes, my life has great meaning in the lives of my family and community.

Morrie says about ALS - “IT’S ONLY HORRIBLE IF YOU SEE IT THAT WAY. IT’S HORRIBLE TO WATCH MY BODY SLOWLY WILT AWAY TO NOTHING. BUT IT’S WONDERFUL BECAUSE OF ALL THE TIME I GET TO SAY GOOD BYE. NOT EVERYONE IS SO LUCKY.”

While we have time - talk - to each other. Say the words. Don’t have unfinished business and then find it’s too late to do anything about it.

On that Saturday morning of June 28, 2014, Randy collapsed while running and never regained consciousness. He passed away seven days later without ever waking up. I’m so thankful that we didn’t speak unkind words on that morning and that I would have to live with regrets - for either speaking the words or not offering forgiveness. There were times of quick, unloving words, but we were also quick to forgive and forget. We didn’t have time. We didn’t have that one last conversation. We didn’t have that one last date. We didn’t have that one last smile. For us - we didn’t have it - but each day we lived with no hidden grudges or unforgiveness - just as I do now.

While we have time - LOVE OTHERS WELL - HATE WHAT IS EVIL - CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD. BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER - HONOUR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE YOURSELVES - BE JOYFUL IN HOPE - PATIENT IN AFFLICTION AND FAITHFUL IN PRAYER. SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PRACTICE HOSPITALITY. BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU. REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO ARE REJOICING AND WEEP WITH THOSE WHO ARE WEEPING. LIVE IN HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER. DON’T REPAY EVIL FOR EVIL. DON’T TAKE REVENGE. OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.

Morrie and Mitch had it right. They spent time together - they spoke the words - they listened - they shared life - they talked about important stuff.

They didn’t wait until it was too late.

Me neither.