Video from TODAY
Michael J. Fox Rediscovers His Optimism
Actor Michael J. Fox has projected hope and optimism for nearly 30 years since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, he shares a story from his new book, “No Time Like the Future,” about hitting a breaking point but reminding himself about what he’s grateful for in life. “Optimism is a choice, but in a way, it isn't,” he says. “There's no other choice. I don't think there's any other viable choice than to hope for the best and work toward it.”
Best known as Marty McFly from “Back to The Future,” the Canadian-born movie star has also had an outstanding television career (“Family Ties,” “Spin City,” “The Good Wife”). He had a reputation of being smart, charming and a team player before his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease 30 years ago. His life from that time on has only added to his resilience and optimistic outlook.
All of us have experienced adversity in our lives. Many of us have health problems, some chronic that challenge our daily functioning to say the least. Recently I heard a Catholic Priest remark that suffering in life has nothing to do with our spiritual development its just suffering. Perhaps he has not read the Bible.
This present age, this world is primarily a season for testing and a refiner’s fire.
"By God’s power you are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this [the coming, sure remedy for all ills; this salvation] you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 1:5-7
Everything that we face in life can make us more Holy. Daily annoyances can reveal our sin. People who make life difficult or hurt us give us opportunities to forgive. Our physical problems teach us to depend on God. Our rebellious children train us to pray without ceasing. Everything that is hard and seems wrong in our lives is a divine invitation to turn to God.
Here is a link to his Parkinson's Foundation: MichealJFox.org