THERESA OF
CALCUTTA - - has been my hero from my early days as a nurse. I had her picture
on my clipboard when I was working in oncology. I would put her photo and quotes
up in secret and not so secret places all through the oncology unit where I worked at St. John's
Regional Medical Center in Oxnard (In linen closets, in the med drawers, in the
locker room, in the nurse’s station). I
do not remember all the quotes I put up around the hospital unit, but I do remember
one I kept on my clipboard. This quote remains for me to this day as guide for
my daily life:
************************************
“I'm a little pencil in the hand of a
writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”
― Mother Teresa
************************************
Teresa of
Calcutta epitomized the words of TERESA OF AVILA (another hero who through her
work - "The Interior Castle" has guided my life) - - - - -
Both Teresa’s
are LIFE MENTORS for me. They are for me
exemplars in service to God through our service to humankind and all life coupled
with deep prayer and meditation.
When I worked
on that oncology unit at St. John’s in every bed there was my Sister, my
Mother, by Brother, my Uncle – all were relatives. There was no person I cared for who was not a relative. Now even in the
smallest thing – buying food at the market, driving my car, taking a walk –
everyone I encounter is a relative… and here is the good news: so many I meet also recognize we are ALL
RELATED- we are all one family. With heart
overflowing i see, the numbers who recognize our oneness growing.
As we enter
this Holy Season there is so much division and suffering in the world. Battle
lines have been drawn dividing those who claim Christianity, Judaism and Islam
(and other ways). In the name of The
Beloved, who is LOVE we spew words and actions which are the anti-thesis of the
affiliation we claim. We point fingers
at the other and say “He started it.” We
are sometimes school children without the maturity to know the ultimate creation of
healing and balance comes not in controlling the ‘Other’ but in controlling the
Self.
It is time
for people of good heart and good intention to stand up and be counted. As we stand, others will find the inner
strength and fortitude to stand with us.
With heart
overflowing with love and gratitude for those who have gone before and hold
aloft the light to guide our way – Pranams – Pranams – Pranams -
******************************************
“Christ
has no body now on earth but yours,
no
hands but yours, no feet but yours,
Yours
are the eyes through which to look out
Christ's
compassion to the world
Yours
are the feet with which he is to go about doing good;
Yours
are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”
TERESA
OF AVILA
******************************************
