An old story is resurfacing about a young woman who entered a convent to prepare herself for a life of celibacy and service. The institution was one of a very strict order. Besides other regulations, the convent enforced a requirement of silence – not a word dare be uttered.
Mother Superior explained to the new recruit that this rule of silence was rigid. However, once every five years just two words could be spoken.
At the end of the first five years of service, the young novitiate was called in and instructed that she had earned the privilege of expressing two words. What would they be? Her answer?
“Food rotten!”
Five years later she was again afforded the rare privilege of speaking two more words. What would she say this time?
“Beds hard!”
The third time she was summoned, the woman proclaimed in exasperation, “I quit!”
“Well, good riddance,” responded Mother Superior. “All you have ever done since you’ve been here is to complain!”
Writer Mark Horton wonderfully said, “The most unknown, unused and unrecognised tool of the human mind, is the recognition that attitude is always a choice.” Another way of saying it is that God gives us faces, but we create our own expressions. I will take notice of the expressions I create today.
-- Steve Goodier
Image: flickr.com/Kiran Kulkarni
