This Week's Quotation:
There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering. The pain we witness can be overwhelming. Then suddenly, the Spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer with extraordinary love.
~ Mother Teresa
Light Ultimately Prevails
Jerry Kvasnicka, Shining the Light
Mother Teresa gave ample evidence in her life of being connected to the Light, no matter her circumstances, which I’m sure were more challenging than most of us can imagine. Ministering for many years to the poor in the slums of Calcutta, India could hardly be considered a glamorous life and yet the Light often emerged unexpectedly in the desperate people she touched.
The Light often does emerge in unexpected ways. When I was studying for the ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, second-year students were required to meet with a patient at the Pennsylvania State Mental Hospital. The patient I was given was a down-and-out woman who was close to a complete breakdown. And yet there was a light in her eyes and a passion in our conversation that unveiled a beautiful Light.
While also at Princeton I was required to lead a youth group in a low-income area of Newark, New Jersey. I became such good friends with two young brothers in the group that I spent several nights in their home and experienced such a wonderful welcome and warmth from their parents.
Yes, how unexpectedly the Light may shine back to us from people we meet, simply because we are shining the Light ourselves!
About Open Windows
We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world's sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.
We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.
This is such a pure Light image, Jerry! Thank you for the reminder that the light is present all the time, everywhere, in every circumstance. Consciously tending and growing our light sounds to me like learning to pray without ceasing, without words, without agenda. The power of simply Being. Thank you.
Many thanks to Mother Teresa and “FAther” Jerry. No Jerry is not a Catholic priest but rather a priest of a high transcendent order. Isn’t it great that the light is so often reflected back if I sustain the shining, When I break from consistent shining because nothing is coming back, there is more likelihood that I will have more darkness in my world… I need to shine consistently like a star … like a sun. … indeed to become a sun for those in my world. Thank you/bless you, Jerry — and the ongoing spirit of Mother Teresa. Love rules. Tom C.
Also thank you Tom-such a clear words of your experience.
Thank You Jerry-great to hear about mother Teresa-and about your work Jerry-in the past and in the here and now.
In moments I was not aware that I did not shine-it comes back to me-I do it now.
Love Irene
Thank you, Irene, Tom and Berry for your beautiful and inspiring responses!
Dear Jerry – thank you for the Light you bring to us all – and the help you offer to the Community. You are a blessing…