Mother Teresa – Carrie's Bench

to be content with yourself…

This is a repost… Somehow it got lost on my blog. Peace to all.

“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.” —

attributed to Mother Teresa

Photo by Daniel Mirlea on Unsplash

With gratitude for his insight, I thank Brian Prior who shared this poem

Sabbath silence

The trees, the flowers, the plants grow in silence. The stars, the sun, the moon move in silence. Silence gives us a new perspective.

Quote: BLESSED MOTHER TERESA
Image: a network of grateful living

To find peace…

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Blessed Mother Teresa

silence…

The trees, the flowers, the plants grow in silence.

The stars, the sun, the moon move in silence.

Silence gives us a new perspective.

Blessed Mother Teresa

what then must we do…

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. Blessed Mother Teresa

These words spoken by Mother Teresa have been near to my heart and in my prayers during these last few days. Today I am once again heartbroken as I watch the streets of Yemen fill with anger and fire – while a barren airplane hangar becomes sacred space as America brings home the remains of 4 men who died while seeking peace in Libya. Our airwaves are filled with sound bites–angry and compassionate, uncaring and in solidarity, disrespectful and filled with honor, unjust and seeking justice. The messages are mixed and self-serving.

What will it take for us to belong to one another? I have lived my life trying to share the good news of peace. There have been moments when doing so has required risk. And as I watch the brief, compassionate ceremony for those four men who knew the risk of spreading peace to their death, I question our ability to negotiate respect and teach ‘belonging’. There is no simple resolution for the conflict that permeates our world.

This is not a comfortable place for me. Questioning our ability to bring peace is not something I want to consider. I have lived believing in the promise of peace and the healing of hope. This has been part of my walk in faith – a walk that has allowed me the honor to meet amazing people along the path. And as we have met, we have known what it means to belong to one another.

This has been my walk of faith. Yet on a day like today I am reminded that faith does not exclude doubt. Even though I wonder whether peace can be obtained, I still carry that promise of hope and healing. It may be better to reflect on Mother Teresa’s words remembering that part of belonging to one another means at times we struggle (which doesn’t always feel peaceful). The work is hard and today I grieve for the loss of life in the explosion of anger witnessed this week.

But the work goes on. And I am reminded of a passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As “God” has sent me, so I send you.’