Faith and Doubt

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
--Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) Missionary

A lot has been made of the numbing pain and doubt Mother Teresa experienced throughout her life, which was recently made known when many of her private letters were published. To me this makes her life and work all the more poignant - and instructive. Doubt and despair typically cause us to withdraw -- but Mother Teresa's life demonstrates that our pain can propel us to greater inquiry and devotion. Some say she lived a hypocritical life. But that's nonsense. Our churches would be empty if we were exclude all those who fear and doubt. What she did was in fact extraordinary. She responded to her pain and emptiness, not in bitterness, self-loathing and isolation (although she certainly wrestled with these issues), but with intense love, joy and service. She stepped out in spite of her doubts, and embraced the mystery of it all, and sought and served God with reckless abandon. One of the most significant and life-altering videos I've ever seen depicts the life and work of Mother Teresa - I highly recommend it -- click here for more.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
--Hebrews 11:8