Thursday, July 24, 2003
Heros of the Condundrum - Mother Teresa
Of course, when thinking of heros who help break through the givens of a world where zero-sum assumptions are the rule, and self interest is of course the primary motivator, one of the first heros of the modern world that should come to mind is Mother Teresa.
What makes her so special isn't that she took care of the poor and orphans. There are many groups that do that...it was the fact that she decided to take care of the most undesirable and unloved section of society, and treat them with great consideration and love.
From the first, when she picked up the first dying man she found in the street, abandoned, left to die in his own filth and sickness, she began a chain of events that had a suprisingly wonderful impact on the society she was working in. Not only did she have a positive impact on the people she was directly helping, but on those she influenced to get out of their own box and look at people, even people they thought disgusting with new light. It helped the poor to be seen as people by those who responded to her appeal. It broke down the doors.
And it was a potent message. It made this quiet, but determined woman into a celebrity, with right-ups all over the world - she became a shining example of how walking humbly with God, loving mercy and acting justly could actually take place, even in places where people hate what you stand for.
I will talk about her approach to spirituality and making the spiritual concrete in action in upcoming entries.
Of course, when thinking of heros who help break through the givens of a world where zero-sum assumptions are the rule, and self interest is of course the primary motivator, one of the first heros of the modern world that should come to mind is Mother Teresa.
What makes her so special isn't that she took care of the poor and orphans. There are many groups that do that...it was the fact that she decided to take care of the most undesirable and unloved section of society, and treat them with great consideration and love.
From the first, when she picked up the first dying man she found in the street, abandoned, left to die in his own filth and sickness, she began a chain of events that had a suprisingly wonderful impact on the society she was working in. Not only did she have a positive impact on the people she was directly helping, but on those she influenced to get out of their own box and look at people, even people they thought disgusting with new light. It helped the poor to be seen as people by those who responded to her appeal. It broke down the doors.
And it was a potent message. It made this quiet, but determined woman into a celebrity, with right-ups all over the world - she became a shining example of how walking humbly with God, loving mercy and acting justly could actually take place, even in places where people hate what you stand for.
I will talk about her approach to spirituality and making the spiritual concrete in action in upcoming entries.
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