麻豆约拍

From Father Brian D鈥橝rcy, a Catholic Passionist priest

I often go on long walks on my own. I love forests, meadows, rocks and rivers. I feel most myself when I鈥檓 alone with nature. I like to think of these as prayer walks. I empty my mind and become grateful for whatever thought is gifted to me.

More and more I think over my past life, not in a guilty way but out of pure gratitude. I recognise the incredible people I have met and who generously shared their wisdom with me. Prophets like Mother Teresa, Jean Vanier, Nelson Mandela, Leonard Cohen or Johnny Cash. Even more importantly, I meet ordinary saints dying in hospital wards. What a privilege!

About 20 years ago I studied counselling and theology in America on a sabbatical year. I recognised the studies I鈥檇 done before ordination, were so out of date that I was a danger to decent people in need.

One of the courses I did was with a counsellor who specialised in developing self-esteem. I wanted to help others understand what powerful gifts both life and faith are.

At the beginning of the course the lecturer was at pains to point out that happiness is an inside job. It鈥檚 a delusion to think any other person can make me happy. You cannot bestow the fullness of life on me, he said; that has to be my own choice. When you twist yourself into a cork-screw trying to make others happy, you鈥檙e wasting your life and theirs.

We have to learn to accept happiness and to generously share it. Thousands of candles can be lit from a single light without ever dimming its glow. Happiness is not lost by sharing it.

One friend found this so hard to accept that he stuck a sign on his bathroom mirror, reminding himself every morning-: 鈥淵ou are looking at the face of the person who is responsible for your happiness today.鈥�

He realised that how you start your day is how you live your day and how you live your day is how you live your life.

All this adds up to a simple message: This is a great day to have a great day.