Time to Wake Up
by Steve Goodier
Rich Johnson quips, "My mom always claimed to feel bad when a bird
would slam head-first into our living room window. If she REALLY felt
bad, though, she'd have moved the bird feeder outside."
We laugh, but what a great life lesson! If we feel badly enough about
something, we will change it. If we feel badly enough about a
behavior or an attitude, we will adopt a better behavior or a
healthier attitude. We CAN change!
You remember Charles Dickens immortal story "Christmas Carol." The
miserly Scrooge grows increasingly unconcerned with others and
isolated until, one night, he is invited by supernatural visitors to
change. The "Ghost of Christmas Past" takes him by the hand and shows
him how his life has unfolded and how his self-centered decisions
have led him to his present unhappy state. The "Ghost of Christmas
Present" takes the blindfolds off his narrow view of life so he can
clearly see how he has insolated himself from the struggles of
others. Finally, the "Ghost of Christmas Future" portrays to Scrooge
what is likely to happen if he persists along his present course. It
is an ugly sight.
Then...how does the story end? Scrooge wakes up. That's right -- he
WAKES UP! When he awakens from his slumber he also awakens to the way
things are. He wakes up and changes! We really CAN change.
The name of Scrooge should never be associated with a miserly person.
That was the OLD Scrooge. But he woke up! He became generous and
jovial. He realized that he could enjoy life. He discovered love --
by giving it away! Nobody "kept Christmas" like Scrooge, Dickens
tells us.
And that's what change is -- waking up. Waking up to the fact the
things really CAN be different! We CAN change.
I like this prayer "with a twist":
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change;
The courage to change the one I can;
And the wisdom to know that person is me."
Steve Goodier
Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for
more information, or to sign up for his FREE newsletter of Life, Love
and Laughter at http://LifeSupportSystem.com.