I wasn't planning on writing anything deep or profound in my first blog, however i was also not planning on getting both sick, queasy and having an emotion filled experience at Mother Teresa's museum/memorial all before 10 am on my first day in Kolkata, but i guess Skeen wasn't lying when he said India really just hits you right in the face, only 27 more days...
In explanation of the strange title of this blog, it was while visiting the Mother Teresa Home and reading through her life story and take on religion that I started to question mine, it was difficult to stand there reading what this amazing woman had to say on Christianity and not take a look at my own view of the faith and how I've been brought up in it. Needless to say it wasn't long before i had come to the conclusion that what i believed was my 'faith' was totally egocentric. Ive grown up to believe that the most important part of my Christian journey is the development of your own relationship with God, and I'm not taking away from the importance of such a task however what Mother seemed to have focused on is the simple act of loving everyone around you, rich, poor, healthy, sick, young or old, something anyone can do anytime anyplace, whatever religion, whatever age.
Three of Mother Teresa quotes that stood out, "Peace begins with a smile" "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do" and "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty" yet why do i find something so simple can be so difficult? Its easy to find oneself smiling around friends and family, however why is it that we cant find ourselves to smile at the beggar or homeless man on the corner whether it be in Kolkata or down Queen Street, when that simple action, can sometimes be exactly what they need, to be acknowledged and accepted as a fellow person, not some rubbish on the pavement barely worth a look at.
I seem to have just confused myself more and more while writing this, hopefully it made some sense to people reading back in Auckland?? Although it was difficult to portray through a simple blog, India is crazy and frightening, I don't know if I'm ready for a total turn around every day whether it be in my faith, health or just view on this weird but wonderful place. Hope things are amazing back in Auckland, and the weather is amazing.In explanation of the strange title of this blog, it was while visiting the Mother Teresa Home and reading through her life story and take on religion that I started to question mine, it was difficult to stand there reading what this amazing woman had to say on Christianity and not take a look at my own view of the faith and how I've been brought up in it. Needless to say it wasn't long before i had come to the conclusion that what i believed was my 'faith' was totally egocentric. Ive grown up to believe that the most important part of my Christian journey is the development of your own relationship with God, and I'm not taking away from the importance of such a task however what Mother seemed to have focused on is the simple act of loving everyone around you, rich, poor, healthy, sick, young or old, something anyone can do anytime anyplace, whatever religion, whatever age.
Three of Mother Teresa quotes that stood out, "Peace begins with a smile" "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do" and "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty" yet why do i find something so simple can be so difficult? Its easy to find oneself smiling around friends and family, however why is it that we cant find ourselves to smile at the beggar or homeless man on the corner whether it be in Kolkata or down Queen Street, when that simple action, can sometimes be exactly what they need, to be acknowledged and accepted as a fellow person, not some rubbish on the pavement barely worth a look at.
Keep smiling :)
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