Thursday, February 26, 2009

"We are all pencils in the hand of God." -M.T.

I haven't posted on this blog for a while. To be honest, I'm not sure I want to keep this blog going. Sometimes the blogging world seems to suck me in and take me away from things that are more important - things that I know I should be doing and that make me feel good. But, I do feel good about sharing messages that have changed me for the better. And I share them in hopes that they might, just by a hair, improve someone elses life as well.

I've wondered, is life more about serving each other or teaching each other "lessons"? I've come to the conclusion that it's all about serving each other which, in turn, allows us to learn life's lessons through such service. How? Because you teach about selfless love. And love is fundamentally what our eternal journey is all about. It's what we're here to learn and understand, it's what brings us joy, it's what makes up Gods power.

I've been sick for nearly 3 weeks. Yes, three weeks! I caught a nasty virus that lasts for two weeks. About one and a half weeks through it I felt better for almost one day when suddenly fatigue, body aches, chills, etc. etc. came upon me again and lasted up until well, yesterday. I went to the doctor who gave me a prescription for a sinus infection and I'm on my way to good health again.

I've come to understand, in these last few weeks, how humans naturally yearn for someone to care about them while they suffer. When someone cares about you it feeds the soul, brings physical strength, and buoys the desire to live. I've realized how important it is to physically serve one another - touching, healing, and giving to one another to help ease each others burdens, sorrows, and sufferings.

Mother Teresa knew what she was doing beyond what we understand. As she nursed those suffering on the streets of Calcutta she nursed them knowing the chances of survival were slim. But, most importantly, she nursed them knowing they were given some love by a caring hand before they left their experience here on this earth.

Even though not all of us are sick or dying we all suffer in some way. Which gives us a perfect opportunity to go out and serve anyone, anytime, anywhere. We need to feed souls, bring physical strength, and buoy the desire to live to those around us as we care for one another. We need to pray to have our usual way of living and seeing things be opened up so we may be led to those whom we can serve and so we may be made aware of how we can serve them. Then we need to pray for courage to go forth and serve in ways that, more than likely, aren't deemed as being "normal".

Mother Teresa knew her calling - to be a nun living in the slums - was something which had never been requested or done before but she knew this calling was from God and after some patient waiting she was granted permission to leave her monastery of 20 years. Her face went pale when she was told she could go but promptly asked, "May I go right now?"

She began her work in the slums by lifting a dying woman in her small arms and carrying her from hospital to hospital - none of which accepted the diseased woman who, in this act of love, died in the small caring arms of Mother Teresa. This first experience of serving the suffering people in her city didn't stop her from doing what she felt called to do - a calling which has helped those who suffer (and those who are willing to serve) throughout the world.

This world is in need of caring hands, an open mind, and a willing spirit to set a new standard of service toward one another.

In the words of Mother Teresa-

"Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness."