The other day while reviewing some of my favorite books, I came across a copy of “Tuesdays With Morrie,” by Mitch Albom. Mitch is a noted sports writer who became aware that his favorite college professor was dying with the debilitating disease ALS. This disturbing fact motivated him to take a series of trips to the home of his honored mentor to discuss and document his feelings as he made his way through the difficult and final transition in his life.
Morrie Schwartz and Mitch met each and every Tuesday until Morrie finally passed. He said over and over, “Mitch, when you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
I found this to be a truly loaded statement. Morrie’s disease was not Cancer, but I am sure his feelings mirror those who have Cancer or other terminal diseases. Although Cancer technology continues to improve the diagnosis of the dreaded “C” word tends to change the way we view our lives.
Mitch noticed that Morrie had the same TV he had watched and car he had driven for many years. His home, although comfortable, had not been remodeled in a long time. The carpets were older as well as the draperies, towels and silverware. Does this sound like homes you have seen? It certainly sounds like ours, we would fit right in!
“And yet, “Mitch wrote,” the house had changed so drastically. It had filled with love and teaching and communication. It had filled with friendships, family and honesty and tears. It had filled with colleagues, teachers and students and therapists and nurses and A Capella groups. It had become, in a very real way, a wealthy home even though Morrie’s bank account was rapidly depleting.”
I found this same spirit in my mother’s home as we gathered around her deathbed. No one cared what kind of car we drove or how much money we made. We felt spiritually in tune and emotionally wealthy as we united with the common goal of sending our mother on to her next life. Style didn’t matter; status didn’t matter; trivia didn’t matter; all that mattered was our mother and the care and love we were able to give her.
Morrie knew that Mitch’s life was firmly planted in the “fast lane” and he advised him, “Mitch, if you are trying to show off for the people at the top, forget it. They will look down on you anyhow. And if you are trying to show off for the people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. STATUS WILL GET YOU NOWHERE. Only an open heart will allow you to float freely between everyone.” He went on to say, “Money is not a substitute for tenderness and power is not a substitute for tenderness. I can tell you as I am sitting here dying, that when you most need it, neither money or power will give you the feeling you are looking for no matter how much of them you have.”
This quote made me think of Lifting Hearts, because I feel that it has a lot of the feelings Morrie was looking for. This group is not about money or power. It costs nothing to join and is literally driven by women who want nothing more than to love and support each other through the rough spots of Cancer treatment. I think that Morrie would have loved this organization because they put into action his quote, “Only an open heart allows you to float between everyone.”
Kathy Christensen
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