Monday 9 May 2011

LEARNING TO LIVE...WITH MORRIE & BOB

Watched Tuesdays with Morrie on the weekend, the movie based on Mitch Albom’s book of the same name, recalling his weekly visits with his old university professor. Hearing that Morrie Schwartz is terminally ill, Mitch rediscovers the affection he had for the professor he dubbed ‘coach’, and in the last months of Morrie’s life finds he learns far more from him than what he gleaned from his sociology lectures and tutorials back in his uni days.

As Morrie’s physical condition deteriorates, he uses the only thing left he can control which has any strength, his voice, to help Mitch see that learning to die teaches us much about learning to live. Sharing his insights on marriage, love, fear, forgiveness, spirituality, intimacy, you name it they talked about it, and in the process Mitch takes his own inward journey to reflect on his own life and the direction in which he’s heading.

Morrie has become an inspiration to many through the gift of Mitch Albom’s book. Morrie certainly had his moments when he raged at his plight and mourned the loss of the life he enjoyed so much, but to quote him…

Dying is only one thing to be sad over. Living unhappily is something else.

Aging is not just decay…it’s growth…If you’ve found meaning in your life, you don’t want to go back, you want to go forward.

The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.

Shed a few tears, great performances by Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria, as the portrayal of the relationship rekindled between the two men was reminiscent of my own husband’s illness and what he felt as he prepared to die.

Bob lectured in theology, sociology and psychology, as well as being a graphic designer, so his work life was pretty full on. It took a brain tumour to turn our lives upside down in the space of twenty four hours, but like Morrie, the experience brought into focus for him what was important, and while he was still able he also used his voice to share what he was learning about living in the process of dying.

It’s strange to actually face dying…I’m not finished, I’m still learning and growing, and I know God has some lessons for me for this time. You just see things a little clearer or something.

I hope I’ve become a gentler person already. Always was a bit of a workaholic. No computers now, what are they for? I prefer people now.

Don’t want to be a burden – want to be a source of strength, a spring whose waters never fail. I know joy unbounded, I feel surrounded by the goodwill of others.

As busy as his life was the wishes during his illness and tributes after his death reflected that even in the midst of his daily schedule people felt seen, valued, heard, and encouraged to become who they were meant to be. As important as our jobs and careers may be, and whether or not we derive pleasure from them, when it comes down to it, it’s our relationships which are really precious and of lasting value. Giving of ourselves to others is the best investment we can make.

The desire to experience the world fully for Morrie meant having an open heart, and I have no doubt Bob would share Morrie’s evaluation of how to find meaning and purpose…

Have you found someone to share your heart with?

Are you giving to your community?

Are you at peace with yourself?

Are you trying to be as human as you can be?

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