The American author, Walter Anderson wrote:
“I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have…life itself.”
To be a person of character, indeed to be a full human being, means to take responsibility for acting in response to the best of our abilities. To often we ask ourselves questions about blame, using the word “responsibility” only when we are at fault. But, instead, we are called to stand up and take part in building a future—no matter the source and no matter the reasons for our present.
Let each of our hearts arise this very morning in response to this call. Let us move from pain and mistakes and craft our responses in the name of life. May this call inspire us to build a future about which we may all be proud.
And let us say, Amen.
