This is part of a book report that my daughter wrote for her MBA. I thought is was very good and that someone on here might be interested in reading it and get something out of it.
My Takeaways
My personal takeaways won’t touch on all of the values and beliefs shared between Morrie and Mitch, but I will touch on a few of them.
When I read this story, and in particular these 60 or so pages, I thought to myself, “What can I take away from this? How can I use Morrie’s and Mitch’s experiences in my own life?”
I first thought of Morrie. He was a leader, counselor, teacher, mentor, friend, father, and husband. I then thought of Mitch as a young student, man, husband, and confused, or even lost, soul.
And then I think of what my pastor tells his congregation – that when things are going well, we lose our footing on God’s rock; we stray off the narrow path to salvation. When we’re struggling is when we tend to hold fast to God and ask him for help. In either case, God holds fast. God holds us fast, even when we lessen our hold on Him.
Whether Mitch was led back to Morrie out of guilt, forgiveness, or hopelessness, he was led back to his counselor to walk with him in his final year on this earth.
Like Mitch, we seek counsel on those things we hold near and dear to our hearts – our beliefs and values. While Mitch may have had these things buried deep in his heart, his counselor guided him in a way to put those things out in the open. Morrie called on Mitch to clarify his values and walk only down that narrow path where his values lay.
I have personally and professionally struggled, as we all have at some point or another, in allowing God to hold me fast and lead me down that narrow path. Sometimes I get caught up in believing I am the one who guides my own actions, values, and beliefs. I am the sole being who decides what and when things in my life will happen. It is me. It can only be me.
However, it is not up to me. We’ve all perhaps lost friends and family members close to our hearts, and we have either experienced before or are experiencing now a close relative or friend battling an illness. I thought about when I had lost my grandfathers, grandmother, aunt, and nearly lost a dear friend. I think about my nephew who was diagnosed with a very rare disease at three years old.
Then I think about the regret, guilt, and my lack of understanding. I think about what I should have done differently.
What Mitch’s and Morrie’s story helped me realize is that I have to focus on the present and the future, rather than look in the rearview mirror. I cannot change the past; however, I can most certainly embrace the memories that reside there.
I’ve never been angry at God, even in the face of trying times. I’ve never blamed him for the loss of close family members. I don’t blame Him for the poor decisions I’ve made. I ask for forgiveness. I ask for help. I ask for salvation. While I haven’t always done these things, my sister, best friend, and most importantly, God, helps me understand that I must ask for forgiveness, help, and salvation.
Ultimately, what Mitch’s and Morrie’s story helps us see and feel is that we don’t create our own destinies. It is not our plan we shall follow, but the plan that God has created for us. He is our guiding light, our Counselor of counselors, and our Father. It is on his rock that we shall find salvation. And in His grace we shall be rewarded in Heaven.
My Takeaways
My personal takeaways won’t touch on all of the values and beliefs shared between Morrie and Mitch, but I will touch on a few of them.
When I read this story, and in particular these 60 or so pages, I thought to myself, “What can I take away from this? How can I use Morrie’s and Mitch’s experiences in my own life?”
I first thought of Morrie. He was a leader, counselor, teacher, mentor, friend, father, and husband. I then thought of Mitch as a young student, man, husband, and confused, or even lost, soul.
And then I think of what my pastor tells his congregation – that when things are going well, we lose our footing on God’s rock; we stray off the narrow path to salvation. When we’re struggling is when we tend to hold fast to God and ask him for help. In either case, God holds fast. God holds us fast, even when we lessen our hold on Him.
Whether Mitch was led back to Morrie out of guilt, forgiveness, or hopelessness, he was led back to his counselor to walk with him in his final year on this earth.
Like Mitch, we seek counsel on those things we hold near and dear to our hearts – our beliefs and values. While Mitch may have had these things buried deep in his heart, his counselor guided him in a way to put those things out in the open. Morrie called on Mitch to clarify his values and walk only down that narrow path where his values lay.
I have personally and professionally struggled, as we all have at some point or another, in allowing God to hold me fast and lead me down that narrow path. Sometimes I get caught up in believing I am the one who guides my own actions, values, and beliefs. I am the sole being who decides what and when things in my life will happen. It is me. It can only be me.
However, it is not up to me. We’ve all perhaps lost friends and family members close to our hearts, and we have either experienced before or are experiencing now a close relative or friend battling an illness. I thought about when I had lost my grandfathers, grandmother, aunt, and nearly lost a dear friend. I think about my nephew who was diagnosed with a very rare disease at three years old.
Then I think about the regret, guilt, and my lack of understanding. I think about what I should have done differently.
What Mitch’s and Morrie’s story helped me realize is that I have to focus on the present and the future, rather than look in the rearview mirror. I cannot change the past; however, I can most certainly embrace the memories that reside there.
I’ve never been angry at God, even in the face of trying times. I’ve never blamed him for the loss of close family members. I don’t blame Him for the poor decisions I’ve made. I ask for forgiveness. I ask for help. I ask for salvation. While I haven’t always done these things, my sister, best friend, and most importantly, God, helps me understand that I must ask for forgiveness, help, and salvation.
Ultimately, what Mitch’s and Morrie’s story helps us see and feel is that we don’t create our own destinies. It is not our plan we shall follow, but the plan that God has created for us. He is our guiding light, our Counselor of counselors, and our Father. It is on his rock that we shall find salvation. And in His grace we shall be rewarded in Heaven.
