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I do not pray for success,
I ask for faithfulness.
*Mother Teresa
Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.
*Mother Teresa
Scripture
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with 10,000 rivers of oil? Should I give my first-born to pay for not obeying? Should I give the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 O people, the Lord has told you what is good. What does the Lord ask of you but to do what is fair and to love kindness, and to walk without pride with your God?
*Micah 6.7-9 (NLV), Inclusive Adaptation
3Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
*Proverbs 3.3 (ESV)
Wisdom Story
Mother Teresa of Calcutta went to a meeting with kings, presidents, and statesmen from all over the world. They were there in crowns, jewels, and silks. Mother Teresa wore her simple sari held together by a safety pin.
One of the world leaders spoke to Mother Teresa about her work with the poor in Calcutta. He asked her if she did not get discouraged due to seeing so little success in her ministry.
Mother Teresa answered, "No, I do not become discouraged. You see, God has not called me to a ministry of success. He has called me to a ministry of mercy."
*Stories from the Heart. Compiled by Alice Gray. Story told by Alice Gray.
Comments
To shift from the usual idea of success in vocation to the idea of faithfulness in vocation is transition from a profane to a spiritual view of all we do. If we attach to the secular definition of success, we will inevitably press too hard for results. We will more likely use others to attain our goals, than respect them in communion along the way. We will think the goal is more important than the relationships of those working together toward the goal. Others and we will think the totems of success prove the worth of our work and our selves. Pure motives will be tainted by selfish egoism. We will, at times, fail to meet our aspirations, and this will lead to discouragement and criticism of others or self.
We need to shift, also, from seeing ordained ministers as in vocation to seeing all Christians called to vocation. Every Christian, by means of the waters of baptism, are ordained by the Holy Spirit to be servants of Christ. Vocation is the adoption of whatever work we do as being done for others as sons and daughters of the One God. In baptism we say, "My life is no longer my own."
This means we are to be working from a motive of mercy. But mercy in the Bible does not only mean doing for another what she does not deserve. The biblical idea of mercy includes the meanings of grace, kindness, faithfulness, love, and empathy.
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Faithfulness as Christians ordained through baptism to serve Christ will lead us into situations of discouragement. We will be pushed to our limits. We will find ourselves put in contexts needing answers and find ourselves without the answers. We will find, at times, we are far from the secular idea of success.
What we believe about our work will be key to how we navigate through potentially discouraging times. If we see our work as our own, we will renter, again and again, discouragement. If we see our work as belonging to Christ, we can live beyond the repeated intrusions of frustration and discouragement. We can help refocus and encourage others, pointing them to the One whom we serve and the spiritual meaning of our work together.
Remember, in your work with persons, your faithfulness is all that ultimately is required of you. If you forget that, you are in for trouble. If you remember that and live it every day, every challenge will be consecrated to Christ and you will continue to place those who serve alongside you, yourself, and the work under consecration to the Spirit of Christ.
Suggested Reflection
Have you had a time when remembering the work you do belongs to Christ and is not all up to you saved you from discouragement?
How does remembering your daily work as the means you serve others in the name of Jesus Christ transform your understanding and experience of what you do? Transform how you see and treat persons who work with you?
Suggested Spiritual Exercise
Choose one of the above Mother Teresa quotes or scriptures and prayerfully meditate on it. Then, enjoy some Silent Prayerfulness, basking in gentle Presence of God and being open to how the Holy Spirit might speak to you. Conclude the time with thanksgiving and adoration.
Brian is available to respond to requests pertaining to seeking a Spiritual Director, his speaking, doing classes, workshops, or retreats for churches or other spiritual groups. He will inform regarding how to receive his other writings or offer replies to comments or questions.
For submission of replies, see below:
*Brian K. Wilcox is Pastor of Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. He is a vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community. His passion is living a contemplative life and inspiring others to experience a deeper relationship with Christ through contemplative prayer and living.
*Quotes of Mother Teresa are from http://home.att.net/~hillcrestbaptist/mt.html .
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