Attitude

ATTITUDE © ARC March 11, 2009

I like most have struggled with the great mystery `why’ questions of the universe -
the biggest, of course, is how a benevolent God could allow misery. I was raised with the `spiritual answers’ of mystery, choice, will.

In a seminar once, true story was told of an older very poor woman who was well known in the community for collecting cans/bottles to recycle. What she was famous for was her cheerful attitude. The store manager who cashed in her returns asked her once how she could be so cheerful all the time. She responded: I can choose to be happy or choose to be sad; I choose happy.

I was two when I first experienced the power of prayer. My Catholic roots early on introduced me to the basics…Mom taught her brood immediately the `Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be’. Religious crosses/pictures were throughout the home - in parent’s bedroom was Sacred Heart above one dresser with vigil light; above bed - cross; side walls had Saint Joseph/Saint Anthony.

I had lost something. Mom immediately brought me in front of Saint Anthony,
told me to say Hail Mary - ask for return. Within minutes it was found. I went back -
looked at him in awe. He became my patron from that moment on.

When I was eight, I desperately wanted a bicycle - knew impossible to buy.
How I prayed. My elder brother celebrated birthday same month. He had old bicycle.
He was given gift of new bike by `religious’ who he did constant errands for.
I got his old bike. Wow!

Then same year, as I got home from school, Mom told me grief stricken,
priest had been called for `Extreme Unction’ - religious sacrament for the dying.
I remember propelling at a run back to empty church - rushing down aisle -
addressing cross in shaky voice: `please - …’. By the time I got back, `tide’ had turned.
Of course, I was convinced that my prayers had done it.

It was age fourteen that I experienced phenomenon.
My mother had change of life baby with Down’s Syndrome.
Neighborhood had never particularly liked us - prejudiced to ethnic minority.
Mom used to sit on front porch - never went anywhere because of her crippled feet -
the result of polio when young girl. Now when she sat on the porch with this
`angel from heaven’ - neighbors came `bearing gifts’ like the MAGI.
I witnessed the transformation power of winter to divine spring.

Throughout my life, now in twilight years,
have continued to witness life `mysteries’ that
renascent transformational miracles.

In some cases, I have been part of them.

Throughout studies defining alchemy has been attitude.
Greet and respond to individuals/situations with `love’ and/or `negativity’.

First always has components of `respect’ for self/other;
second: judgment/condemning.

At `age eight’ I chose `love’ side.
I `slip continuously’ to other through `sin’ -
oftentimes it feels like an icy hill that I’m trying to climb.
Best part is `inner’ awareness that even though very, very difficult
I’m on the hill that `greats’ climbed -
Mother Teresa, Corrie ten Boom, Martin Luther King,
Mahatma Gandhi, Oskar Schindler, et al.

I may slip, but I’m there.+