Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Try this.

A priest friend send me this image this morning:

I was curious to learn more about Steve Maraboli, and found this 2011 story about him from Long Island Catholic:

“Pretend God is deaf” and more interested in actions than words, motivational speaker Steve Maraboli advised parishioners at St. Peter of Alcantara Church here last week.

“The language of God is action,” said Maraboli, native of Port Washington and a graduate of the parish school here. He cited Jesus’ words from the Gospel: “Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened.”

“‘Seek, knock.’ Those are verbs, action words,’” said Maraboli, author of “Life, The Truth, and Being Free,” and “The Power of One,” and host of “Empowered Living” on Internet Radio. The actions that you take indicate your seriousness about what you want, a seriousness that words alone do not convey.

“I can’t just pray for success,” he told more than 150 people at St. Peter’s Nov. 15. “I have to be success.”

Maraboli, who is also a counselor and business consultant, told his story about struggling with school as a boy but later learning the lessons of life that enabled him to become successful. He has spoken around the country to businesses, conferences, and churches.

“This is the first time that I have spoken at a Catholic church,” Maraboli told the audience, which included his father, Manny Maraboli, a parishioner at St. Peter’s. “I’m honored to be here.” Following his talk, Maraboli signed copies of his books. He noted that proceeds from book sales that night would benefit the parish.

Dominican Sister Peggy Tully, pastoral associate at St. Peter’s, introduced Maraboli.

In his talk, Maraboli said that as a student he had trouble in school because he was disinterested. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. There, he learned from his drill sergeant the importance of being aware of what is going on around him.

Another formative experience, Maraboli said, came when his mother was dying and he and his father spent much time at her hospital bedside. “If you want to learn about living, hang out with people who are dying. They’ll tell you not to sit around but to get off your butt and live your life.”

“Today is the only day that you have any influence on. Yesterday is gone,” Maraboli said. “Have you ever unsaid anything? Have you ever undid anything?”

Read the rest.