The Healing Journey

March 2, 2025

Tom had his own library of books about happiness. He had been collecting them and reading them for years, and sometimes he thought he wasn’t any closer to happiness than when he started. But there was one at the top of a pile of books on his nightstand that intrigued him — “Dr. Burns’ Prescription for Happiness” by the late comedian George Burns, who lived to 100, so he must have known something.

His definition of happiness included young women, Caribbean vacations and winning streaks at Vegas casinos, and had all the gravity of his looney skits with his late wife Gracie Allen.

But as Tom read, he stumbled upon this gem: “If you were to go around asking people what would make them happier, you’d get answers like a new car, a bigger house, a raise in pay, winning a lottery, a facelift, more kids, less kids — but probably not one in a hundred would say a chance to help people. And yet that may bring the most happiness of all.”

That, of course, is a fundamental message of our faith. We are called to practice the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. We’re called to help others in many different ways, including compassionate listening to those who are sad or depressed or grieving.
©J Pisani

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