Like most people, I have a great deal of admiration for Mother Theresa and the work that she did for the poor. Lately, the church has released a series of letters she wrote that may change the way many view her. In these letters to her church superiors she expresses honest questions about her faith and her relationship with Christ. Her letters suggest that this struggle lasted for several decades even while she was doing so much to help so many.
I am sure some will take her doubts and use them as an example of hypocrisy that didn't match her public acts of faith and service. To me however, her service in the face of such doubts makes her faith all the more real and evident to me. Her faith sustained her during her doubts. Without faith, how else would she have been able to carry on her mission?
Her experience reveals the true nature of faith that we sometimes want to gloss over. True faith is intricately linked to our lack of trust in God. It sounds contradictory but without doubt we wouldn't need faith. Faith is the expectation and belief in something that doesn't seem real to us and let's be honest; sometimes God doesn't seem all that real. We want certainty. We want all our questions about God answered. As Christians we want a perfect relationship with Christ every day. But the real world doesn't conform to these ideals. In fact, Christ's very disciples didn't have a perfect relationship with him despite 3 years of close physical contact. If that's the case why should we expect or demand more faith from us and others?
This is good news for us. It's okay to doubt. It's okay not to understand why God answers some prayers and not others or why he seems nearby some days and very distant on other days. God doesn't mind us being real and authentic with him. Rather he prefers us to be open and honest in our relationship with him. Read the Psalms and the prophets and you will read over and over again people of God, crying out to him, lacking in faith. But their stories didn't end there and neither do ours. When we submit our fears and questions to God, he gives us just enough faith to carry us over the chasm of doubts in our life. God promises to complete the work he started in each of us. He doesn't guarantee that work will get done quickly or without struggle or doubts but he promises to get it done and be with us along the journey.
I am thankful that Mother Theresa felt free enough to be honest in faith. It makes me respect her all the more.
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3 comments:
Jeff,
Awesome, Thanks for that. To me she embodied courage which is: "The ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain with out being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action" and it is also the ability to keep going, over & overagain when tragedy strikes; and still help others when you arehurting within. She never lost sight of her purpose in life or her God-given gifts. She continues to be an inspiration to me, as to what a "true Christian" is.
Peace,
Jackie Dawson
See Chuck Colson's breakpoint on "Mother" Theresa.
http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=6988
Mother Theresa has been like a talisman to me since I started The Whisper Campaign. I read her quotes and pray for her spirit. I am only encouraged to know that even someone considered a Saint by many, was still human enough to doubt herself and God. I think it makes her more approachable and real. Her life seems more attainable. We can either live in our doubt or step out in faith.
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