Most readers of this Message would be aware that the focus of my life and ministry these days is helping Veterans get healthier.
One of the precepts that we share with Veterans to come to us with complex Health issues is to remind them that whatever they focus upon will get larger. If you focus upon what’s not going well your problems will increase; if you focus on what could be better, things will get better.
Christmas time is certainly a time when we can be mindful of all the good things in our life, but more particularly to do some good things for others, especially those most in need .
This was the message and the mission of Jesus of Nazareth, 2000 years ago that continues to be relevant to us today. We could easily lament the problems of Covid, of rising gas prices, or our concerns about how veterans are treated, and whilst these are real, and we should acknowledge them, we should not be preoccupied by them.
There is a wonderful prayer, call the Serenity Prayer
The programs that we have been running for Veterans over the last seven years, have been most successful because we are helping Veterans to change the things that they can – the way they look at life, the things they can do to improve their own health, but most importantly, helping them find new purpose in helping others in need.
There is nothing new in this approach. This was exactly the approach that Jesus of Nazareth offered to humanity. Love your neighbour as yourself, do what you can to make the world a better place. This is the inspiration of Christmas. May all of us, not only seek to improve our own lives, but do something special to improve the life of someone else this Christmas season.
May God bless you all,
Padre, Gary Stone.
