Food for thought from Mother Teresa
Posted by lamtinchi on 10 February 2008
The quotation from Mother Teresa below (texts in bold print) is more for reminding myself on how I should handle my life than for sharing. Readers of this blog are welcome to contemplate on it though.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centred; forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are sucessful, you will win some false friends and some true friends; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone would destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world your best anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.
Note: Believers of different faiths could interpret the word ‘God’ in the quotation in their own way, in accordance with how their faith defines the word. I interpret the word to be equivalent to one’s conscience.
psswong said
“Doing things in accordance with one’s own conscience”? This is very well said.
The main problem with doing things in accordance with one’s own “conscience” (as defined in Confucian ideology)is that it can so easily be compromised, say, being bribed for pecuniary gains or succumbing to threats and political or sicial pressures. There are numerous such instances in Chinese and indeed human history. Also, it can vary with nationality, culture and time.
Christianity defines conscience as the Holy Spirit residing in us to guide and instruct us according to God’s Word, as promised by Jesus prior to his ascension. Those who heed it will hear its voice. Wonder what you think about this.
jlam said
Thanks for your comments, Psswong. I totally agree to your point that conscience itself is no guarantee for people not to be compromised, take bribe for pecuniary gains, or succumb to threats and political pressures. One can only does one’s best not to, with the help of one’s conscience. Similarly, I believe that there are devoted Christians who would be compromised, take bribe for pecuniary gains, or succumb to threats and political pressures. Again, a Christian can only does his/his best not to, with the help of the Bible’s and the Church’s words.