September 16, 2001

Dr. Sydney Jouard authored a fascinating article entitled "The Invitation to Die". He wrote that we have within ourselves all sorts of biological self-destruct mechanisms that are held at bay only if our lives have meaning and purpose. Take either away, introduce the idea that we are not needed or wanted, and those mechanisms become active and we die. Whether you agree with him or not, there is no denying the truth that our health and well being are often commensurate with out being needed.

Dr. Leo Buscaglia once told the story of a young girl who walked through a meadow one day and discovered a butterfly impaled upon a thorn. Very carefully and lovingly, she released the butterfly. It began to fly away, only to circle back and transform itself into a fairy godmother. She said to the girl, "Because you were kind to me, I will grant your finest wish." The girl thought for a moment and said, "I want to be happy!" The fairly godmother whispered in her ear and then vanished.

As the girl grew older, she became happier and happier. No neighbor, no friend, and no one in her village was as happy as she was. When asked her secret of happiness, she would smile and say, "That's between me and my fairy godmother." As she reached the twilight of her life, everyone feared she would die and the secret of her happiness would die with her. "Tell us please!" they begged her. "Tell us the secret of your happiness. Tell us what the fairy godmother told you!" Finally she told them, "Everyone has need of you! There is not a soul who doesn't love you and want you near!"

A fictional story yes, but one laced with the truth. Being needed and wanted is not only the key to health and well being. It is the key to happiness as well.

In today's Gospel, we are presented with two parables dealing with "wantings". In the first, what is wanted is a lost sheep and the second a lost coin. The shepherd finds his sheep and the woman finds her coin and there is great joy everywhere. In God's eyes, we are the lost coin and we are the lost sheep. God wants us and needs us even though we may feel we have abandoned and neglected Him. In essence, no matter how we may feel, we are wanted and needed by God. Embrace his though and you will be happy and healthy.

SO THE QUESTION: WHAT SUBTLE HINTS COULD LEAD SOMEONE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOT NEEDED OR WANTED?

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