Tuesdays With Morrie

I gave a Christmas present to myself - book called, "Tuesdays With Morrie." A colleague in the media recommended it so heartily that I concluded that I had to get the book. Time slipped by and soon it was the Christmas season. I told my wife I wanted the book and then it was under the tree.

It was easy reading - a book I couldn't put down until it was finished. It is also a book worth re-reading, which I intend to do.

I once wrote of a woman who came to see me for counseling after receiving a diagnosis of ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This disease is a brutal, unforgiving illness of the nervous system. We spent a special and sacred hour together. I learned more from her than she did from me.

Similarly, the author of, "Tuesdays With Morrie," - columnist Mitch Albom - chronicled a series of 14 Tuesdays he spent visiting with his former college sociology professor Morrie Schwartz. He had 14 visits filled with love, insight and remarkable candor. This was his professor's final class on the Meaning of Life. There was just one student present, Mitch.

This is a book about life - a zestful, dynamic life lived with purpose and dignity to the very end. This is a book about death and the way one courageous man approached the calamity of his illness and impending death. To Mitch, Morrie said, "I know you think this is just about dying but it is like I keep telling you. When you learn how to die, you learn how to live."

The book is a jolt - a clear-headed reminder about how important life is and how precious time is. This book will bring you back to your basic core values instead of being swept along by a river of popular culture, materialism and trivia that cleverly masquerades as life. After reading the book, I vowed to do better at very important things - things I knew I needed to do but neglected because they are too hard or, more likely, because the other choices are too easy.

Some of the topics Morrie discussed during his Tuesdays with Mitch included: views about the world, feeling sorry for oneself, regrets, death, family, emotions, fear of aging, money, the legacy of love, marriage, culture, and forgiveness. He imparted the wisdom of his well-lived and highly reflective life.

Equally touching was the description of the relationship between the professor and his former student. Love was expressed unashamedly. Barriers to expression, love and sharing were swept aside by a dying man's willingness to share his heart and his honesty.

Mitch would never be the same. Hopefully, this is how we can be with one another long before a death sentence looms and allows us just a few weeks or months to visit each other's souls.

To give you a flavor for the book, I'm including a discussion Morrie had with Mitch about money and status.

"There is big confusion in this country over what we want versus what we need. You need food, you want a chocolate sundae. You have to be honest with yourself. You don't need the latest sports car, you don't need the biggest house. The truth is you don't get satisfaction from those things. You know what really gives you satisfaction?"

"What?"

"Offering others what you have to give . . . Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life? I wrote it down, but now I can recite it: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

Toward the end of the conversation Morrie concludes, "Do the kinds of things that come from the heart. When you do, you won't be dissatisfied, you won't be envious, you won't be longing for somebody else's things. On the contrary, you'll be overwhelmed with what comes back."

Time is precious. Life is precious. This space in the newspaper and the opportunity to communicate with you is precious. I have written from the heart. Not always. Not enough. One lesson I took from this book is to be more selective and passionate about the topics I choose for this column. Not always. Not perfect. But more so.

I appreciated my colleague's enthusiasm for "Tuesdays with Morrie" and his calling it to my attention in the way he did. In a similar vein, that is why I devoted a column to entice you into reading it. It is easy to be passionate about this book.