Tuesdays with Morrie
Feb 19th, 2007 by Don Ledingham
Sunday afternoon telly showed “Tuesdays With Morrie”. Alan Blackie lent me the book a few months ago and it made a real impact (I’ll get it back to you Alan).
The book recounts the true story of the relationship between a man and his former university teacher in the last months of the older man’s life due to a terminal illness. If you hadn’t read the book the film might have appeared a bit schmaltzy but the book has an incredible depth and power.
I was really struck by the images contained in this extract:
“I heard a nice little story the other day,” Morrie (the teacher) says. He closes his eyes for a moment and I wait.
“Okay. The story is about a little wave, bobbing along the ocean, having a grand old time. He’s enjoying the wind and the fresh air - until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore.
“My God, this is terrible,” the wave says. “Look what’s going to happen to me!”
“Then comes along another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him, “Why do you look so sad?”
“The first wave says, “You don’t understand! We’re all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn’t it terrible?”
“The second wave says, “No, don’t understand. You’re not a wave, you’re part of the ocean.”
I smile. Morrie closes his eyes again.
“Part of the ocean” he says, “part of the ocean.” I watch him breathe, in and out, in and out.
It’s a brilliant read - you’ll equally love one of his other books ‘The five people you meet in Heaven’ - quite brilliant.
Wonderful book - have tried to put into words the imp
Wonderful creation - have tried to put into words the impact reading this had on me but have failed to be able to do so! I aspire to be making that difference to someone’s education and ultimately, to their life!!