Synchronicities with Mother Teresa
Lessons from Mother Teresa
When walking around Sorrento, Italy on vacation in 2016, we came across this wonderful photo exhibit. My heart burst with gratitude for the opportunity to see rare photos of her in action.
I’m drawn to Mother Teresa, so I get giddy when I learn something new about her life.
One such occasion happened when my husband, my daughter and I didn’t have a plan ( a miracle in itself) and were casually walking around Sorrento, Italy. We came across a photography exhibit featuring Mother Teresa’s ministry in Calcutta, India.
Awe-struck, I carefully studied each black and white photo hanging on the church walls.
If we’d had a plan, we would’ve missed out on that special experience.
Another time, we were walking along the seawall in Victoria, BC, and a man was selling laminated pictures of Mother Teresa. Naturally, I bought one.
Then, in an airport on the way to London, England, Mother Teresa smiled at me from the cover of TIME magazine.
Huddled in economy class, I devoured the stories, wondering what questions I would ask her if we had ten minutes together.
These synchronicities were coming to me in waves for some time. Remember the Yellow Punch Buggy game? It was like that. The more I thought of Mother Teresa, the more she popped up.
At that time in my life, I was seeking to understand what my ‘calling’ was. I equated my calling with my career.
I later discovered a calling has no connection to career at all. It can eventually become something we do to help others, but it’s not something we’re paid to do. It’s an inner discovery that slowly leads us to understanding who we are and why we’re here.
One quote of Mother Teresa’s in particular pushed me out of my comfort zone. ‘Let God use you without consulting you.’
Gulp.
For the sake of sharing inspiration, I refer to her writings below and include a few ways she's inspired me to be better.
“If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one” Mother Teresa.
In an era of going big or going home, small actions can seem to amount to nothing.
If you ever feel like your small efforts are futile and that no one notices or cares about the unseen ways you help people, take heart. Feeding, caring for, teaching, encouraging, helping, and being kind to one person counts.
The power of one is underestimated.
One stone starts the construction of an entire building. And it only takes one rock to create a ripple effect when tossed in water. ONE.
You are that one person.
“Peace begins with a smile.” Mother Teresa.
One day, I was smiling at the people around me at the grocery store. One woman was taken aback as if to say, “Am I supposed to know you?”
I was also on the receiving end of a genuine smile and wondered if I had spinach in my teeth.
It’s safe to say we need more practice smiling in the Western World.
Mother Teresa says, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
Smiling is a simple way of nurturing ourselves and others. :)
Mother Teresa, Time Magazine.
“If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.” Mother Teresa
We all experience jealousy at some point in our lives and hopefully, we see the ridiculousness of it and grow out of it.
On the flip side, we shouldn’t stop being happy because others are jealous.
Philosophers have discovered that happiness is our natural state.
But in life we face difficulties and our fair share of tragedies that weigh us down, some for many years.
When we finally find happiness after digging ourselves out of a pit of despair, it’s well deserved and should be shared.
Lately, I’ve been noticing that when I’m immersed in the moment I forget to post on social media. It feels good to simply enjoy things without needing to invite Instagram in all the time.
As Mother Teresa says, if someone is jealous because of your happiness, be happy anyway.
TAKEAWAY: I think Mother Teresa would be happy with our progress when we’re doing our best each day. She’d probably also remind us to keep doing small acts with focus, care, and consideration for the benefit of others. In my experience, it starts with our family and friends first. We won’t be happy if we only give the good stuff to strangers.
Which point do you resonate with?
Until next month,
Shana Lee
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