Following Your Dreams, Even in Darkness:
- September 19th, 2010 4:58 pm ET
- By Dr. Paulette Ko..., NY Love Examiner
I just finished reading Mother Teresa’s letters in a book called, ‘Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light’ I am spiritual (but not religious) and when I think of a handful of people who spread a global message of love, Mother Teresa is one of them. With few financial resources or education of her own Mother Teresa made huge improvements in the world. Her light continues to shine on us even after her death, inspiring us by her example. She started off a nun with a calling, all on her own. In the beginning, she had 13 members on her mission in Calcutta and this grew to 4,000 nuns and 610 missions in over 123 countries. For 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned and dying. So it was interesting to me to learn a bit about how she accomplished all this and how that journey was for her.
As the ‘NY Love Examiner’ there’s no one better to examine as a ‘giver of love’ than her. You may think, ‘Well how can I compare myself to Mother Teresa when my dreams are so small by comparison?’ I often hear people wish that they could write a book, form a school, found a charity, sing in public etc. but their reasons not to try include a lack of education, feelings of self-doubt, alienation, lack of money and support, doubt of their personal talent etc. and all these ideas seem to stop them before they even begin! We all have many obstacles to creation and there may be many uncomfortable sacrifices to be made with mixed successes along the way, but does that mean that we should not try? And, what are some tips we could learn from luminaries who have paved the way?
I took away 12 tips from what I read of Mother Teresa’s experience and I wondered whether they might be applicable to those of us with much smaller dreams. You decide:
1. PERSISTENCE THROUGH MUCH REJECTION: After her calling, Mother Teresa wanted to start her mission right away but she was met with much waiting and questioning. Even though she was determined to start immediately she chose to continuously write letters to key people in the church until they finally agreed to her mission. Sometimes she knew she was annoying them by her persistence. They even repeatedly told her to pray and to let them consider it for awhile but she continued to write to them nonetheless. She was willing to keep taking action in the face of rejection and disapproval.
2. BLIND FAITH EVEN THROUGH LONG PERIODS OF DARKNESS: In the beginning Mother Teresa heard the voice of Jesus and felt close to him but her writings reveal that in many later periods of suffering, she did not. She knew what her mission was so she continued to do it even when her faith or feelings seemed to falter. She believed that if she kept on doing what she committed to do, her purpose would be served.
3. HIGHER PURPOSE: Mother Teresa felt that her global mission was to help the unwanted, suffering and poor to feel a sense of love and belonging. Anything that did not reflect that purpose was not of interest to her. She had a laser
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