A LENTEN REFLECTION FROM A LETTER TO THE FATHER JUSTIN RADIO PROGRAM

"Often I have to work on Sunday. Once in a while I get to listen to the Rosary Hour, the broadcasts of which are worthwhile for elderly listeners as well as for the young. I heard one of the broadcasts on February 22nd when the title of the program was: "MAKE UP YOUR MIND." That phrase, in my opinion, was the most beautiful and learned of my path in life. It has brought me satisfaction and happiness in over forty years. When I was eighteen years old, I left my parents in Poland and came to America to seek a better piece of bread. I had a big head, but empty and playful. Seeing what was going on here, I came to the conclusion that only fools work hard, but I have a head on my shoulders and I know better. I knew that you don't have to work hard and still live well. I tried to live that kind of a life. So what happened when I proceeded to live a life according to that principle? I soon became an old man and a drifter. I hung out with other "bums" My paradise became a flop house. One day something bothered me: that I would visit a Polish girl where I had previously lived. I came across a dance hall where there was entertainment. I went there. No one there was willing to give me a hand, no one wanted to talk to me, because who would want to talk with such a Madison Avenue bum. At last everyone left, each to his home to his or her family. I left to sleep under a bridge. Then the road led me to Seventh Avenue to St. Adalbert's Church where I used to attend when I first came to America. When I entered through the main doors of the church some unseen force stopped me in my tracks. I stood riveted to the floor without moving. Some hidden inner voice shouted at me. "MAKE UP YOUR MIND." I began to think about that! It seemed to me that some hand kept me riveted to the church floor. I took off my hat and said, My God! What happened to me? When I attended this church, I prayed, I had a job, I had good health, I had some worth, people had a good opinion of me, and I had money in my pocket. And now, here am I and what do I possess? I blessed myself and breathed deeply to God: "Lord, help me return to a simple and honest way of life." At that time I made up my mind to begin a new life. So that was my conversion to a new way of life. That was the last night in my useless and Gypsy life style. I started to go to church. I went to a dive in the Polish district. I found a job. I stopped drinking. From that moment of decision, I was happy, because God gave me health and after health, the passion for work. Since then, in thirty eight years, I missed only two weeks. I never was in need, I always had food. I reared my children and clothed them well and gave them a proper education. An asset in my life is my good wife. I have enough money stashed away for my retirement. If I hadn't made that decision and asked for God's help, I would have died long ago. A man without God can do nothing and accomplish nothing. A man with God's help can accomplish anything."