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Show lessons, Fail 2004 page 19 LITERATURE on Spirituality Author Mitch Albom: Spirituality and Higher Education BY LYNDSEY SCULL Graduation looms ever closer, tightening its choke hold and whispering, "Lyndsey, you have to figure out what you're going to do for the rest of your life." Try as I might, I cannot ignore the inevitable. For many students, graduation signifies the end of the easy- to-follow series: elementary __ school, junior high, high school, college and... then what? The ominous void of "the real world" gapes open and big decisions loom overhead. Where should I work? What should I do? How can I get a job? Am I going to get married and have a family? And most importantly, where can I go if I need help? The answer is quite simple: have faith. Religion, for many, provides solace during life's difficulties. Religion helps to answer the seemingly unanswerable questions by reassuring its followers that life has a way of making sure all the pieces fall into place. By offering hope even in the darkest times, religion can be the motivating force that helps someone get up, dust off and get back on track. For students worried about life after graduation, this kind of reassurance is the ultimate tonic. I've tuesdays with Morrie an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson observed religious friends and co-workers rely on their respective faiths to help guide them through uncertainties and difficult decisions. I'm always elated at their resulting determination and confidence, but then I stop and ask myself, "That's great, but what should / do?" I am not a religious person. I was not raised to be particularly religious nor do I believe I will ever be religious. Without the option to turn towards religion to seek for hope and ask for guidance, I find myself confused and anxious as I regard my future. Where should I turn when life gets me down and I need some chicken soup for my non-religious soul? My relaxation technique usually involves some kind of caf-feinated beverage and a good book. Feeling clueless and desolate about my unforeseen future, I followed my usual routine one day and picked up a book to read in search for some inspiration and encouragement for the days that lie ahead. Judging by its subtitle, "an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson," I hoped this book might help me alleviate some of my anxiety and perhaps ease my apprehension. To my own surprise, reading Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie was indeed the answer. This book led me to an epiphany as it gave me some of the most meaningful and useful answers that I long awaited. Doubleday Publishing 1997 208 pages |