file open help

I can't think of a nice solution to open  file. I wonder if somone else 
might be able to think of something of the top.

I have beans using db layers. I want to use them in both struts and a 
console app (no container).

To get console to work I open config like this:
File f = new File ("properties\\sql-map-config.xml");
  _sqlMap = XmlSqlMapBuilder.buildSqlMap(f);


To get struts to work I open config file like this:
Reader reader = Resources.getResourceAsReader( 
"properties/sql-map-config.xml");

_sqlMap = XmlSqlMapBuilder.buildSqlMap(reader);


Of course I would like to be able to get to it from console app and 
struts/web app without some if/than thing. I looked at DB layer resource 
file.

Suggestion?

It's late and... I can't think. But what ever I think of will be in my 
best practices.

tia,

.V