Some might think that after being back in the States for almost three months now I would be somewhat on my way to being back into my "normal" life style here at home. Well, this is partially true. I have gotten back into the day to day routine of what we call life, and I have been soaking up ever minute of it, or at least trying to. But there hasn't been a day that has gone by where I haven't thought about India; my volunteer friends, the mousi's, the Missionaries of Charity, my little ones at Shishu Bahavan, my friends at Kalighat, the food, and much much more.. When I first got back to the States it was really hard for me to be present to those around me. I was so caught up thinking about India, what I just experienced, and wishing I could go back. I talked to a few of my volunteer friends to see how they were adjusting to being home and one of them told me exactly what I needed to hear (thanks Amelie) "Pam! That doesn't help (wanting to be back everyday)! You are in America, that is your mission, there is only now. God is only in the present." Ever since I had this conversation with Amelie, I have taken what she said to heart and I have been doing everything I can to be present in every moment.
I have found these two quotes by Mother Teresa and they have been my daily reminders to live out my new mission:
"I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look only at the individual. I can love only one person at a time. I can feed only one person at a time. Just one, one, one. You get closer to Christ by coming closer to each other. As Jesus said, "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me." So you begin...I begin. I picked up one person--maybe if I didn't pick up that one person I wouldn't have picked up the others. The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if we don't put the drop in, the ocean would be one drop less. Same thing for you. Same thing in your family. Some thing in the church where you go. Just begin...one, one, one."
"At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in." Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing-- but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks--but homeless because of rejection. This is Christ in distressing disguise."
So the mission is now. Our mission is here. Seeking the face of God in everything, everyone, everywhere, all the time and seeing His hand in every moment. Taking the love with which He has planted in our hearts and sharing it with each soul we come in contact with. One family member. One friend. One coworker. One student. One stranger. One heart at a time. Just one, one, one.
So let's begin.
I have found these two quotes by Mother Teresa and they have been my daily reminders to live out my new mission:
"I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look only at the individual. I can love only one person at a time. I can feed only one person at a time. Just one, one, one. You get closer to Christ by coming closer to each other. As Jesus said, "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me." So you begin...I begin. I picked up one person--maybe if I didn't pick up that one person I wouldn't have picked up the others. The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if we don't put the drop in, the ocean would be one drop less. Same thing for you. Same thing in your family. Some thing in the church where you go. Just begin...one, one, one."
"At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in." Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing-- but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks--but homeless because of rejection. This is Christ in distressing disguise."
So the mission is now. Our mission is here. Seeking the face of God in everything, everyone, everywhere, all the time and seeing His hand in every moment. Taking the love with which He has planted in our hearts and sharing it with each soul we come in contact with. One family member. One friend. One coworker. One student. One stranger. One heart at a time. Just one, one, one.
So let's begin.
