“Finding Our Divine Purpose” by Rev. Christine 5/30/2021
Today is the day before Memorial Day, and I wish to recognize and honor each soldier that gave their life in service. This year I include all those in the medical field and caretakers who gave their lives in treating those with COVID19. I also include all the firefighters, policemen, and first responders who gave their lives to serve. And, to all people who gave their life to help another, or the victims; each of these people had a divine purpose whether they knew it or not.
This weeks message is on “Finding Our Divine Purpose.” I remember students of mine saying, “I don’t know my purpose in life,” or “What am I suppose to be doing with my life?” These weren’t young men and women, some 50, 60, 70 years of age. Not giving any credit for all those years prior as a mother, father, or whatever career they may have had. That was then, now they had a new urging to find greater meaning in their life.
I remember thinking, back in my mid 20s to early 30s, that if I wasn’t in the healing work or teaching about spirituality, then I wasn’t serving God. At this time in my life, I was doing spiritual studies on my own. Back when I was a medical assistant, and in giving an injection or drawing blood would silently say a brief prayer. The patient would mention how painless it was. The doctor would send me in before him to find out what was really going on with his patient. He knew that some patients weren’t really physically ill, but needed someone to listen - to care.
For example, this one patient, had twin toddlers in her 40's, and her husband had a major stroke who had been a very good provider, and could no longer work. She was now his care giver as well as caring for the toddlers. She was exhausted, and depressed. I shared with her about when I was recovering from an injury and unable to work while raising my two young children. How I hired a teenager to come after school a few hours once a week to help out. This simple advice she followed, and was so much happier.
Then being a grocery checker, I took on a practice to silently greet the Christ in each customer just prior to my usual welcoming. I had my regular customers. And, some shared their personal problems. This one women had to put groceries back, because she didn’t have enough money. She shared that her husband broke his back, and she had no hope for him getting better. I shared with her about my back injury, and now recovered able to grocery check again. Back then a grocery checker had to do a lot of bending, twisting and lifting.
I told her that there is no shame in getting financial or food assistance to support your family. Its there to get you through. About six months had past when she told me that her husband’s back was fully healed and he was back to work, and thanked me for helping her through that challenging time. That’s when I learned that even from the checkout stand, that I could do God’s work.
Later on, while working as Manager of Computer Services and MIS, I developed skills sets that later served me as Sr. Minister and in running a church. It was during this time that I received my training in Divine Science.
During my ministerial internship, I served as a hospice volunteer in a nursing home. It was a trial program back in 1986. There was this one man, terminally ill with cancer. His wife refused to go in and speak to him because he had tried to commit suicide. His wife told me, he had been a high level executive at a major corporation. Now he was so frail and helpless. I would silently sit with him, and hold his hand. One evening he mistook me for his wife, when he asked to be forgiven and said how much he loved me. I responded telling him that he was forgiven, and told him I loved him. He seemed at peace, and went to sleep. Later that night he past away.
Throughout my ministry I have been sharing my stories as a way to convey Divine Science Principle and its practices. I was given these experiences to learn profound lessons, and I’m humbly grateful that I can share, and hopefully inspire.
Today its about our divine purpose. We don’t always know when we are helping another, or what we do makes a difference in their life. It doesn’t matter, its about being there and doing what we can. Whatever we are guided to do. What does our heart or gut feeling tell us to do? Then its following through. Its listening to that still small voice within us, and then to obey by following through.
Its so easy to let that loud voice; the voice of fear or judgement to override. Heros say they have fear, but regardless they have the courage to go through with it anyway. This brings me back to all those that serve knowing it is dangerous to their own well being. There are so many unsung heros.
Jesus the Christ and his disciples, and early followers, lived at a time when it was dangerous to have a different view in the practice of their Judaic religion. All that Jesus Christ wanted to do was to bring new life of understanding to the teachings. So they too can know the truth that shall set them free.
Christ Jesus reminded the rabbis, that were questioning him, that the scripture says, Psalms 82:6, “You are gods; you are all children of the Most High.” The power to heal is within us. That love, forgiveness and generosity are the way. I’m reminded in 1st Corinthians 13:13, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” In some translations charity is used in place of love. For me charity means compassion.
This brings me to Mother Teresa, known today as Saint Teresa, from her book Total Surrender, “Its not how much we give, but how much love we put in the doing - that’s compassion in action.”
Mother Teresa shares this story, “Sometime ago a man came to our house and said, Mother, there is a Hindu family that has eight children. They have not eaten for a long time. Do something for them. So I took some rice and went. When I arrived at their house, I could see the hunger in the children’s eyes. Their eyes were shining with hunger. I gave the rice to the mother. She took it and divided it into two, and then she went out.
“When she came back, I asked her, Where did you go? She said, They are hungry also. Her neighbors were also hungry. What struck me most was not that she gave the rice but that she knew they were hungry. Because she knew, she shared. I did not bring more rice that night. I waited until the next morning so that they could experience the joy of sharing and loving.
Love, to be true, has to hurt, and this woman who was hungry–she knew that her neighbor was also hungry. That family happened to be a Muslim family. It was so touching, so real.
This is where we are most unjust to our poor–we don’t know them. We don’t know how great they are, how lovable, how hungry for that understanding love. Today God loves the world through you and through me. Are we that love and that compassion? God proves that Christ loves us–that he has come to be his Father’s compassion. Today God is loving the world through you and through me and through all those who are his love and compassion in the world.”
In another story by Mother Teresa, “Very often we pick up sick and dying destitutes from the streets of Calcutta. In 25 years the Sisters have picked up more than 36 thousand people from the streets and more than 18 thousand have died a most beautiful death. When we pick them up from the street like that, we give them a plate of rice. In no time we revive them.
“A few nights ago we picked up four people. One was in a most terrible condition. I told the sisters that I would take care of her while they attended to the other three. I really did all that my love could do for her. I put her in bed and then she took hold of my hand. She had such a beautiful smile on her face and she said only: “Thank you.” Then she died. There was a greatness of love. She was hungry for love, and she received that love before she died. She spoke only two words, but her understanding love was expressed in those two words. I have never seen a smile like that.”
I remember, Mother Teresa having said, When she is caring for a person, she looks into their eyes, and remembers that each person she serves is the Christ. Now Mother Teresa was obviously an exceptional person. She taught us that simple acts can be so meaningful to the people we serve. We may never know how we have impacted another person’s life.
Our lives can become so busy that we are always doing. I remember when at times in my life being so busing doing stuff; focused on the outer things in life, rushing to get things done with so much responsibility and too many deadlines. I felt, a part of me feeling lost - forgotten. Life having lost its meaning. I had been so busy doing that I had forgotten about being present in the moment, and taking quality spiritual inward time for me.
Being present in the moment requires us to slow down, in taking time to becoming still, meditate, prayer, read spiritual writings. Now we are being available for inspiration and guidance. Then living life from this inward perspective; as we slow down we can pay attention to what we are doing, thinking and saying. We can notice the everyday miracles of life. We can take time to truly listen and be present for another person. Being here in the now allows us to see how we can truly meet the needs of another life through the heart with compassion.
Think for a moment, going back to when you were a child. What did you enjoy doing? What were you naturally good at? This may give you clues to how you can live your maturing years in Divine purpose.
In life, we go through stages; infant, child, youth, young adult, adult, aging adult; and one that most people don’t include is a spiritually mature adult. Unfolding our spiritual nature in remembering who we are, and why we came here.
Many people have found new careers in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s which have brought them much joy in giving new meaning to their lives, and has also helped financially. There are so many avenues available for seniors these days to have fulfilling lives.
Yet, we can start with our children; being that parent that helps the child to live life with values, purpose, spirituality and balance. Helping them to find their gifts for the world. Ask your child what do you enjoy doing? What gifts do you want to share with the world?
What ever stage in life we’re at, we can always ask our self these same questions. We each have our own unique divine purpose. Just remember what stirs your heart and feeds your soul. Its all about awakening to our Oneness in God. When we serve another we are truly serving God. There are so many ways to serve: it can be a painting that speaks to the heart; there are those that have voices to sing or share poetry; preparing meals, or a helping hand, a green thumb, uplifting words, or just listening. Its about God’s love living and expressing through us.
At the beginning of this presentation, I mentioned students asking what their purpose was. Some of these people found their purpose that led them to become Divine Science Practitioners and Ministers. Rev. Marie Dible was 80 years old when she was ordained, and served as my Assistant Minister. For some people their purpose evolved; its about being open to ever unfolding.