GIFTS

“ I didn’t choose
to have heart
problems. I did
choose UPMC.
”
D
THE MOUNT NOVEMBER 2015
2
Living Strong in the Season
BY REV. DR. WILLIAM H. CURTIS
uring this time
of year, we all
have a tendency
to re-evaluate
our lives. In the
winter, we get
more spiritual
because the
colder weather
forces introspection
and time with ourselves.
In the fall, we are focused
on back-to-school if we have
kids, or getting the house
ready for the cold months. In
the spring and summer, we
worry about getting fit for the
warm weather and making
sure our work schedules are
in order to allow for vacation
or extra money as needed.
The seasons are cyclical in
many ways, and for us as
Christians, they represent different
things at different times in
our spiritual year.
I’ve been talking and advocating
a lot about my “living
strong” in faith and spirituality
lately. I’ve been firm in my
directives to stay focused and to
remain stronger than the enemy,
and I’ve waxed a bit poetic in my
suggestions to look inside and
to get to know ourselves better.
Of course, I mean it all, and, as I
write this article, I feel a certain
urgency to remind everyone to
tap into our strengths as this
season of cold weather, holiday
activities and more relaxed and
festive schedules approaches. I
urge us all to dig deep and vow to
remain rooted in faith and discipline.
During the holiday season,
we need to make sure that we
still live strong in all that we do.
In the shadow of celebrating
Christmas, we find ourselves
feeling nostalgic and thankful.
This is a good thing. These are
feelings that we need to tap into
for our continued strength in our
faith journeys and in our journeys
to success in life. It is important
to understand that this
type of rest and reflection is important
and productive, whereas
simple inaction and permanent
movement from the path of the
disciplines we readily impose on
ourselves is not. Straying too far
from our goals and from our daily
initiatives is dangerous; such
behavior can open the door to
idleness and laziness. If we allow
appropriate rest and reflection or
applied introspection and restful
analysis to our daily disciplines,
we can see enhanced results as
opposed to inaction.
Living strong, or keeping
that reserve of fortitude and resilience
close at hand, is imperative
to staying the path regarding
faith and discipline. God wants
us to rest; even He rested on the
7th day. He does not want us to
lose sight of our goals, however,
nor does he want us to lose our
drive to create lives that are
constantly improving. Knowing
ourselves and knowing what we
need to replenish in this time of
both reflection and preparation
is key to maintaining what we
need personally, emotionally,
professionally, and spiritually, to
succeed in our daily lives.
Facebook: WHCMinistries
Twitter: @PasCurtis
Website: WHCMinistries.org
4544_upmc_sr_choose_revb_8.25x10.875_mountmag_a.indd 1
Reverend Beard had a heart attack.
And he ended up needing triple
bypass heart surgery.
But it was during the surgery that
UPMC surgeons discovered that he
had a heart aneurysm as well, which
they were able to treat.
“I’m now back at the pulpit. And I’m
able to preach and sing. UPMC was
able to catch my heart aneurysm.
I trust them with my life.”
To learn more about UPMC services,
call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762),
or visit UPMC.com/Choose.
11/4/15 8:06 AM