One of our parish members, Kathy, is a high school teacher.  She's a good one - it shows in the way her students listen to her, interact with her, and in the way she lovingly harrasses them! One of hte courses she teaches is organized around the idea of personal responsbility.  I speak to both sections of that course every semester, with the exception of this past one.  I share with the kids a little bit about my own life, experiences, choices, and recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.  Following my presentation, Kathy asks the students to write me a note.  Some of the notes are quite insightful while others break my heart. A few of the notes are humorous. 

A very insightful young man wrote me to thank me for sharing my message with him and his classmates.  He wrote about some of his own life decisions.  He noted some regrets as well as dreams for the future.  In closing, he wrote, "I hope that when I grow up I will know what really makes me happy."  Amen!  Do we know what really makes us happy?  Isn't the gospel of Jesus Christ an attempt to answer that question?  What makes us truly happy, alive, and as real as we can be?  It is a life centered on the truth of faith in Christ, a life that seeks the good of others and love of neighbor and self.  By this God is honored in our lives.  Might be a good idea to spend some time with the statement of that young man and ask ourselves:  Do I really know what makes me happy? 

OK, and here's a humorous one:
"Dear Fr. Scott,
Thank you for talking to our class about your life and recovery.  I enjoyed it very much and learned from it.  I have a question:  if there was fight between you, Superman and an Irish guy, who would win?  I would bet on you!" 

I wrote him back and told him that while I've not yet encoutered that situation, if it should happen, I am guessing I would prevail... 

God bless!