My niece Sara Potter and I went to Calcutta/Kolkata for the express purpose of serving at Mother Teresa's mission. Mother Teresa started serving there before I was born, and she has been one of my heroes my entire life. I have learned so much from her example and writings. I never dreamed I would be in that hallowed place.I am forever grateful for what I learned there. Here are just a few of the thoughts that will shape the rest of my own life and ministry.
1) Since the absolute good of those being served is a far higher value than the comfort and desires of the server, a desire to serve must be accompanied by a desire to train and be equipped. No one for any reason could serve without attending orientation.
2) Not "cleanliness is next to godliness", but surely "cleanliness is an essential part of godliness." The sisters clearly believe that good stewardship of yourself and whatever God-given resources you have includes cleanliness and care. You had to be clean to serve. The surroundings were exceedingly humble, but meticulously clean. Our first service there (before we got to do the acclaimed people care) was to clean. In our long skirts, Sara and I cleaned the volunteer room. She washed walls and furniture. I mopped the stone floor with an old bath towel clothes-pinned to a rake like structure--twice. When I was finished, Sister Marguerite with a cheery smile held up two fingers and said, "Again. 2x." Then we soaked and washed the supplies, hand wringing, and scrubbing. Only then were we ready to serve the poor in the ways we had dreamed.
3) That leads naturally to this: TRUE serving is doing whatever needs to be done, not just what I want to do or feel gifted to do. It is easy to put limitations on my service and feel undervalued and put upon if what I want to offer is not needed at that time.
4) True service doesn't depend on conducive surroundings, but on a cooperative and compassionate heart. The buildings there are so very old and humble and limited and cramped---I could go on. My American mind would never have seen this as a place where such dynamic ministry of every kind could thrive. Could they do MORE with better? Absolutely. But since they don't have it, they don't dream or waste their lives away. They do the maximum they can with what they have. (ie:cloth napkin-like diapers tied in a triangle, no plastic pants.)
5) They are committed for the long-haul. We worked with abandoned, disabled, and handicapped children. Joseph, the handsome little boy with eyes gazing nowhere I loved on, carried, fed gruel, and changed, will likely be there for a lifetime. He is autistic with additional physical problems. Around 7 years old, he can't walk or do any care for himself. He is a large "infant". In the last 5 years, only one child has been adopted and given a home. These women's love is like Jesus'---no expiration date.
6) It occurred to me how much service we give for "others" is actually to make ourselves feel good. We announce it, report it, "humbly" call attention to it, look for the right "photo ops" to prove our service. In order to guard the dignity of those served, and preserve the selflessness of service, no photographs are permitted. One leaves with only priceless and indelible imprints in the memory and character. It made me wonder in our culture how much good would ever get done if no one ever knew who did it.
7) The DNA of a leader (whether it be parent, pastor, teacher, boss) leaks through everything. The longer they lead, the clearer the connection. Our followers become like us, whether we want them to or not. Mother Teresa has been in heaven since September 5, 1997, but her presence, character, and values pervade every molecule of the place.
8) WASTE NOTHING. Anything that could be used and re-used was. They got all the mileage they could from everything. Even our little thank you packets were made of old envelopes from personal mail the sisters received.
9) Excellence and love is its own best PR. Mother Teresa did not and her Sisters still do not advertize, pay for any personal publicity, or have media reps. They simply do the work few others want to do with consistency and compassion, and people come from all over the world to participate. On the day we volunteered, there were people from 6 different countries there, most of them giving up their vacations to come and serve for 2 weeks to 3 months without pay or notice. Humans are created to love and serve. When we exemplify what we want, a slow steady stream will join us.
10) Christians can work with the world without lowering their values, just raising their love for all people. Few if any of the people serving shared the faith of the sisters. However, the sisters with a smile accepted all offers to serve alongside them, while making it clear in every possible way that the service was given in the name of Christ. They prayed---requiring only silence and respect from all of us. Mass was offered, not required. Everything was offered in the deepest respect BECAUSE of Jesus, but nothing was forced. The condition of service was the operational values, not faith. All were equally respected.
11) Gratitude is a hallmark of excellent service. The Mother's disciples were so naturally joyful in their sparse and meager setting, filled with unrelenting responsibility. Calcutta/Kolkata announces itself as "The City of Joy." Sara and I laughingly labeled it false advertising, because we saw joy NOWHERE except at Mother Teresa's humble mission. Not only were they grateful to God for his mercy and faithfulness, their faces were wreathed in smiles as they thanked us for serving. They led the whole group in singing, "We thank you, we will miss you, we love you, God go with you", clapping hands and making us feel...well, how do I describe it? I couldn't help but smile, because they were so kind. But it is without a doubt one of the most unworthy moments I have experienced in my life. I, a hit-and-run server, was publicly applauded by people whose entire lives were defined by selfless giving. It was backwards and upside down.
There will be a day when everything is set right and the price tags on what we value will be switched to show their true worth. The last shall be first, and Jesus will declare that what he announced as truth is now forever fact: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:41-45)
On that day, the day when Who the applause comes from will be authentic and accurate, I so want to hear "Well done." I am seeing more and more clearly how far I have to go. Thank you, Mother. Thank you.
1) Since the absolute good of those being served is a far higher value than the comfort and desires of the server, a desire to serve must be accompanied by a desire to train and be equipped. No one for any reason could serve without attending orientation.
2) Not "cleanliness is next to godliness", but surely "cleanliness is an essential part of godliness." The sisters clearly believe that good stewardship of yourself and whatever God-given resources you have includes cleanliness and care. You had to be clean to serve. The surroundings were exceedingly humble, but meticulously clean. Our first service there (before we got to do the acclaimed people care) was to clean. In our long skirts, Sara and I cleaned the volunteer room. She washed walls and furniture. I mopped the stone floor with an old bath towel clothes-pinned to a rake like structure--twice. When I was finished, Sister Marguerite with a cheery smile held up two fingers and said, "Again. 2x." Then we soaked and washed the supplies, hand wringing, and scrubbing. Only then were we ready to serve the poor in the ways we had dreamed.
3) That leads naturally to this: TRUE serving is doing whatever needs to be done, not just what I want to do or feel gifted to do. It is easy to put limitations on my service and feel undervalued and put upon if what I want to offer is not needed at that time.
4) True service doesn't depend on conducive surroundings, but on a cooperative and compassionate heart. The buildings there are so very old and humble and limited and cramped---I could go on. My American mind would never have seen this as a place where such dynamic ministry of every kind could thrive. Could they do MORE with better? Absolutely. But since they don't have it, they don't dream or waste their lives away. They do the maximum they can with what they have. (ie:cloth napkin-like diapers tied in a triangle, no plastic pants.)
5) They are committed for the long-haul. We worked with abandoned, disabled, and handicapped children. Joseph, the handsome little boy with eyes gazing nowhere I loved on, carried, fed gruel, and changed, will likely be there for a lifetime. He is autistic with additional physical problems. Around 7 years old, he can't walk or do any care for himself. He is a large "infant". In the last 5 years, only one child has been adopted and given a home. These women's love is like Jesus'---no expiration date.
6) It occurred to me how much service we give for "others" is actually to make ourselves feel good. We announce it, report it, "humbly" call attention to it, look for the right "photo ops" to prove our service. In order to guard the dignity of those served, and preserve the selflessness of service, no photographs are permitted. One leaves with only priceless and indelible imprints in the memory and character. It made me wonder in our culture how much good would ever get done if no one ever knew who did it.
7) The DNA of a leader (whether it be parent, pastor, teacher, boss) leaks through everything. The longer they lead, the clearer the connection. Our followers become like us, whether we want them to or not. Mother Teresa has been in heaven since September 5, 1997, but her presence, character, and values pervade every molecule of the place.
8) WASTE NOTHING. Anything that could be used and re-used was. They got all the mileage they could from everything. Even our little thank you packets were made of old envelopes from personal mail the sisters received.
9) Excellence and love is its own best PR. Mother Teresa did not and her Sisters still do not advertize, pay for any personal publicity, or have media reps. They simply do the work few others want to do with consistency and compassion, and people come from all over the world to participate. On the day we volunteered, there were people from 6 different countries there, most of them giving up their vacations to come and serve for 2 weeks to 3 months without pay or notice. Humans are created to love and serve. When we exemplify what we want, a slow steady stream will join us.
10) Christians can work with the world without lowering their values, just raising their love for all people. Few if any of the people serving shared the faith of the sisters. However, the sisters with a smile accepted all offers to serve alongside them, while making it clear in every possible way that the service was given in the name of Christ. They prayed---requiring only silence and respect from all of us. Mass was offered, not required. Everything was offered in the deepest respect BECAUSE of Jesus, but nothing was forced. The condition of service was the operational values, not faith. All were equally respected.
11) Gratitude is a hallmark of excellent service. The Mother's disciples were so naturally joyful in their sparse and meager setting, filled with unrelenting responsibility. Calcutta/Kolkata announces itself as "The City of Joy." Sara and I laughingly labeled it false advertising, because we saw joy NOWHERE except at Mother Teresa's humble mission. Not only were they grateful to God for his mercy and faithfulness, their faces were wreathed in smiles as they thanked us for serving. They led the whole group in singing, "We thank you, we will miss you, we love you, God go with you", clapping hands and making us feel...well, how do I describe it? I couldn't help but smile, because they were so kind. But it is without a doubt one of the most unworthy moments I have experienced in my life. I, a hit-and-run server, was publicly applauded by people whose entire lives were defined by selfless giving. It was backwards and upside down.
There will be a day when everything is set right and the price tags on what we value will be switched to show their true worth. The last shall be first, and Jesus will declare that what he announced as truth is now forever fact: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:41-45)
On that day, the day when Who the applause comes from will be authentic and accurate, I so want to hear "Well done." I am seeing more and more clearly how far I have to go. Thank you, Mother. Thank you.
