Originally Posted by 24601

Subject: Easter message from Bryan Bedford

Good evening.

It is hard to believe we are coming to the end of Holy Week, and we are still seeing snow in mid-April. As Easter Sunday arrives, let’s hope spring finally comes with it.

I usually write a letter at the start of Lent and another just before Easter. I didn’t do that this year, probably out of an irrational fear that something I might have written would be misinterpreted, creating a controversy where none was intended. Fear is a funny emotion. It can be helpful if it prevents us from doing something harmful to ourselves (or others), or it can be really harmful if our fear prevents us from taking actions which ultimately are beneficial to us, our friends, our family and our eternal salvation. However, fear is not what I want to write about today.

I also usually devote my Easter letter to a particular virtue that happens to be on my mind. In the past, I’ve written about mercy, forgiveness, faith, gratitude, humility, hope, perseverance and many others. Today, however, I am moved to discuss the virtue of obedience.

Some of you may wonder whether obedience should even be considered a virtue. The Gospel teaches us that Jesus was obedient, even unto death; death on a cross.

Luke 22:42 reports, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still not my will but yours be done.”

In this ultimate act of selflessness, we see that Jesus submits His will to the will of the Father. Few would argue that humility is a virtue. I believe in order to be obedient, we also must possess a certain amount of humility. Doing so, if you will, is recognition that we all are subject to authority.

My 12-year-old son Jacob certainly doesn’t see much that is virtuous about obedience, and it is something he struggles with on a daily basis (which may explain why it is on my mind today).

For the most part, Jacob is a normal, smart and healthy kid. It’s just that he would prefer to use his time after school doing what he thinks will make him happy: playing video games or goofing around outside -- basically anything other than doing his homework and his daily chores around the house first. Those of you with kids probably think that sounds pretty normal, but when Jacob doesn’t get his way he gets angry and his anger leads to frequent confrontations. Many of you know I have a rather large family, and my wife Maria and I have been very consistent as parents with all our children. So Jacob’s anger management issues and his general disdain for authority is a real outlier in our home. But what really is so frustrating for us as parents is not that Jacob’s behavior creates tension in our home, but that Jacob cannot seem to grasp how his disobedience actually prevents him from achieving the happiness he desires.

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon situation in society. Even in our own Company, I am always saddened and disappointed by former employees who were caught drinking or taking drugs while on duty. I can only assume they engage in such behavior because they think it will make them happier, but at what cost? Sure, it’s possible they thought they might not get caught, but is that short-term “high” really worth the potential consequences? Did they consider the very real danger such actions could pose to our co-workers or passengers if there were an emergency? In the end, could such a choice ever truly lead to happiness?

And this is what I am really trying to get at today: What can lead us to real happiness? God gave us free will to make our own choices, but He also gave us a set of commandments to live by. His intention wasn’t to trap us in a life of boredom, but to liberate us from the trap of self-destructive behavior. Like any loving parent, we set rules for our children to follow because we love them and want them to be safe and happy. There is a good reason why we don’t want our kids playing with matches in the house, right? Maria is fond of telling our kids that if they can learn now to obey in the small things, then they will be able to obey the rules when faced with more serious challenges, like peer pressure to drink or take drugs.

Each of us has the capacity to be virtuous men and women, as well as the capacity for vice. And I believe virtue is something we learn, develop and can grow in even as adults, but we have to make an honest effort. For me, it is a constant struggle to battle the vices of pride, envy and impatience, just to name a few, but knowing I suffer with these faults helps me to focus on the virtues of humility, gratitude and patience, even if I’m not always successful.

As we contemplate the crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday and prepare for the celebration of His resurrection on Easter Sunday, let us reflect on the reality that Jesus’ sacrifice was the ultimate act of obedience and pray that we, too, can find eternal happiness through obedience to God’s commandments in our daily lives.

Peace,

Bryan ,