Starting in January of this year I have become really obsessed with Mother Teresa and her amazingly selfless character. Today, I found another book in my parent's extensive library entitled, Total Surrender by Mother Teresa. Basically the book discussed what it meant and took to become a Nun and even more specifically a Missionary of Charity Sister. I found it fascinating how these women were willing to give up everything they ever had, will have, were, and are to be a Nun. They vow to live a life of poverty, chastity, obedience, and wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor (as they like to call them). Their dedication and devotion to that submissive calling and lifestyle is truly admirable and really astounding. I can hardly stop myself from buying another pair of heels every week and these women dedicate their entire lives to wearing their plain Nun attire, so that they won't be distracted from other more incredibly important things, like helping people in need. Now, I'm not saying that I would like to become a Nun anytime soon, because I honestly just don't feel the need to be that extreme, but I really do admire their mindset and their doctrines. I would love to share with you my favorite part of the book...
"A Missionary of Charity is just a little instrument in the hands of God. We must try to keep it always like that-being just a small instrument in his hands. Very often I feel like a little pencil in God's hand. He does the writing; he does the thinking; he does the movement-I have only to be a pencil and nothing else.
-You are being sent; you have not chosen for yourself where you want to go; and you are sent just as Jesus was sent to us.
-You are sent not to teach, but to learn: learn to be meek and humble of heart. That is just what Jesus has asked us to do: "Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart."
-You are sent to serve and not to be served: Go to serve with a humble heart. Never escape the hard work. Be always the first one to do it.
-Go to be a cause of joy to your communities.
-Go with zeal and love for the poor.
-Go in haste, like Our Lady (Virgin Mary), to serve.
-Choose the hardest thing. Go with a humble heart, with a generous heart. Don't go with ideas that don't fit into our way of life: with big, big ideas about theology and what you would like to teach, but rather go to learn and to serve.
-Share what you have received, with a humble heart.
-Go to the poor with great tenderness. Serve the poor with tender, compassionate love.
-Say yes to peace with your tongue. Close your mouth rather than speaking a word which will hurt anyone.
-Go to give yourself without any reservation. Give yourselves wholeheartedly, unreservedly."
What really blows me away about these people is their willingness serve and put others above themselves. These women ironically live in the same poverty of the people that they serve, not because they can't afford to live any other way, but because they choose to do so! They feel that when helping the poor it's easier to care for them when they can empathize with their situation and that having less makes life worth more. They believe that poverty is freedom. Having money causes desires and desires cause wants and wants cause "needs." Eventually the "needs" will increase, for one thing brings another and the result will be endless dissatisfaction. Hence poverty makes them free! I'm starting to believe more and more in that sentiment.
Lastly, I like the warning that they give to those that don't choose their dramatic lifestyle. All they ask is that we be more mindful and careful regarding the poverty of our houses. They ask that any of the daily needs that the poor can't get on a daily basis we should be more mindful of our usage of them, so that we also feel the hardship in food, clothing, water, electricity, soap-things which our poor often go without. Therefore, we can become more compassionate and more inclined to do more for those around us. I'd like to challenge everybody (starting today) to go out of your way to conserve more and to also do 3 random acts of kindness everyday. I believe that by putting these two simple ideas into practice we as individuals can make a dramatic positive difference in the world. I know it seems like a waste, because what can one person do to change the world right? Wrong! This is how great movements start and lasting changes are made! Individuals decide to take a stance for what they believe in and for what is right and others join in. Take a stance with me and help your fellow man out! The worst thing that could happen is that you do something nice for a stranger. Hmmm, wait does that sound bad to you? Me neither. :)
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