Advice from Mother Teresa:
“Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. … You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.”
The sun was blazing over head from the hot south Texas sun. I excitedly left with a few friends I had just met.
We piled in cars to travel a few miles down the strip to give sandwiches and cool water to the homeless congregated downtown under the shade trees. The streets were quiet. There wasn’t a soul stirring.
Two Miles Away
We decided to head to the bus station. Finding a spot to park we unloaded a cooler full of water and set up a little folding table to put the bagged lunches on. A few men walked by and we’d wave them over “Are you hungry?” An “Oh yes” seemed to be the usual response.
We visited, prayed, and asked if they needed anything. There was a sweet dear woman I spent some time with and as she turned around to leave I quickly said, “Ma’am – can I pray with you?”
With the most precious toothless grin her blue eyes looked into mine and she said, “Yes, but I want to pray. But I only know one prayer.”
We bowed our heads and she began “Our Father . . . “
Eyes to See
Tears flowed freely down my cheeks as my heart connected with hers and I joined in.
. . . who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Mother Teresa is right. There’s no need to travel far.
Calcutta is everywhere, if only you have the eyes to see.
Where is your Calcutta?
Beautiful!