Moving Towards "The Little Way"
There comes that mysterious meeting in
life when
someone acknowledges who we are and what we can be,
igniting the circuits of our highest potential.”
--Rusty Berkus
Over time, Theresa
has experienced a profound spiritual awakening...
- An awakening ignited by a series
of events not only impacting how she now views her world, but
also on how she chooses to live within it professionally as well
as personally. In her own words...
-
It was September 29, 1989 at 3:00 a.m. when I
first saw and felt the presence of Creator’s White Light; His
brilliance filled my bedroom where I laid crying. This early
morning hour coincided with what was the morning after my tenth
wedding anniversary. My heart ached as I knew my marriage was in
trouble. I asked Him whether joy would ever replace the sorrow I
felt in my life. He left with an answer that puzzled me then… I
would find the greatest joy from that which gives me the greatest sorrow.
-
In
February of 1996, as my husband and I were
about to separate, I was asked to go to Israel on business. It
was either the worst possible time or the best possible
time depending on how you choose to view it. I chose to view it
as the latter. As I walked down
Via Dolorosa - the Sorrowful
Way - I felt Jesus walk with me. It was during this walk I
felt a huge weight lifted from me for He picked up my cross and carried
it for me. Whether surviving abuse, dealing with relationship problems,
suffering from physical/mental difficulties, or accumulating
debt, we all have our secret struggles; we each carry a cross in
this life. How we choose to
deal with our struggles is up to each of us as we are given a
free will in which to choose our path. With the world competing
for our attention, our paths vary. Many immerse themselves in
the world’s troubles to avoid dealing with their own.
There are many others … admittedly myself included … who get so caught up
with their own problems they can’t see and feel the sorrowful situation of the world around them. Still,
there are countless others who seek balance and direct an eye towards
both.
-
As we cope
with our struggles, we discover special
individuals who come in and out of our lives at various times
and for varying amounts of time.
Ranging from a brief encounter to a lifetime, they are placed in
our life at a very precise moment for a very specific reason. All influence us; not only
on how we view and interact with the world around us, but also
on how we see and feel about ourselves.
Ultimately,
it is when we humble our self enough to ask for their help, life
changes the most miraculous ways. For me, help came on
October 23, 2002
when a very special individual entered my life as I was experiencing the
darkest of times. His presence changed me in the most divine way
and has since altered the course of my journey forever.
Eventually becoming my dearest friend and spiritual mentor, he
has helped me in countless ways through the years; not only by acknowledging who I am,
but also by being able to see and feel a potential in me that I
myself did not see or feel. Over time as my confidence increased;
I started to believe in myself and eventually fell in love with
who I am for the first time in my life. His unconditional love
not only changed me; it saved me!
-
As I started
to connect more with my own self, with the Creator, and the
world around me, I was truly blessed once again as
Saint Therese of
Lisieux
(better known as St. Therese of the Little Flower) came to me in
a vision in the early morning hours the Saturday after
Thanksgiving -
November 24,
2007. She said we were very much
alike – imperfect, stubborn, and temperamental until the White
Light changed our journey. For St. Therese, His divine presence
changed her life from that day forward as she devoted her
life to
serving the Creator. As a Carmelite nun behind cloistered walls
made of stone, she realized she would never do great deeds. However,
she could do many “little deeds” with great love. These “little
deeds” would not only make a difference in the lives of others,
but would also allow others to see and feel our Creator’s
presence… perhaps for the first time.
Making such a difference in the lives of others can take on many
forms. As a writer, St. Therese made a difference through
letters acknowledging and promoting the good works of
missionaries. Her letters not only included prayers and poetry,
but also a rose - a symbol of love. As a writer, she also made a
difference with her autobiography,
The Story of a Soul.
In it, St. Therese said our Creator’s presence may be seen and
felt each day as little miracles that come our way as we do
“little deeds” with great love. Calling this
“The Little Way”,
she said we could make a real difference in the world just by
doing many little things over time.
Leaving with her signature - an image of a single rose - St. Therese said I
too could make a real difference in the world; not only through
my words, but also through my actions. Like her, I have a chance
to use my writings and my deeds not only to promote and acknowledge the good
works of others, but also to help others see and feel our
Creator’s presence - perhaps for the first time.
Commitment
to "The Little Way"...
Life is
not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but the moments that take our breath away
Anonymous
At first glance,
the "The Little Way” sounds easy. Commitment to it is far
more difficult as it demands two things of us: humility and
patience. Humility
prevents us from thinking too highly of ourselves.
Patience
allows us to endure the long and painful process of personal
growth. Embodying her life and teachings, St. Therese said, “Our
Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or
even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.”
Instead of aspiring to “great deeds,” she encourages us to do
small deeds with great love. To her, these “little deeds of
great love” are “little flowers” demonstrating tender affection
for our Creator.
Indeed - a
tender smile, a kind word, an encouraging gesture – are small
things that can give new life and a fresh faith to others. When
not concerned with personal greatness, we find solace in our
littleness. Like small children, we focus our attention instead
on the small details. It is these small details that keep us “in
the moment” – entirely present to ourselves, to others, and to
Creator; thus, allowing us to act in love.
Imagine the
kind of world would we now live in if we all embraced “The
Little Way”. Imagine still how different our world would be if
we all conducted our social, business, family, spiritual, and
romantic lives with the firm belief small details mattered; that
even the shortest contact with another person is inherently
important. Through small acts of kindness and small moments of
compassion, we would not only change ourselves, but eventually,
humanity.
Living "The Little Way" with Five Guiding Principles
If
many little people
In many little places
Do many little deeds
They can change the face of the Earth.
African Proverb.
I
cherish and am truly grateful for every life experience, however
sorrowful or joyful. It is now time for my vocation as a writer
to be the meeting place not only for my gratitude, but for the
deep needs of this world. While my writing among all writings
represent only a pinpoint of light, every word will be shared
with great blessings that may be paid forward. And when all
these writings - representing little deeds - are put together,
it is hoped I can make a significant difference. For I have learned that
to the Creator, nothing is small as all acts contain the seed of
the future affecting lives far beyond this time and place.
Moving
forward, White
Light Communications will be unique in its offerings as every service, every
"little deed” will be performed
with great love, capturing the spirit of St. Therese and
“The Little Way”.
Guiding White Light Communications along
“The Little Way”
are Five
Guiding Principles Ms. Fischette learned from her
mentor; principles she now wishes to pay forward to all
those who are placed in her life. They are:
Principle 1 - Explore
life's challenges head on
and express gratitude for life's
joys. Seek,
learn from, and
hold onto the good derived from life's challenges as the greatest joy is
indeed
derived from that
which gives the greatest sorrow.
Principle 2 - Experience
all potential solutions as a child would ... by being
present in the moment. This not only allows us to take in
all the details of that moment with all five senses, but allows us to act
in that moment with great love.
Principle 3 - Learn
ALL intended lessons as every
challenge, every solution offers one or more lessons.
Principle 4
- Grow
knowledge obtained from every lesson learned.
Principle 5 - Teach
by sharing with others what you have explored,
experienced, and learned. Everyone will benefit and learn even more.
These
principles not only improve your professional life, but also
your personal, family, spiritual, and romantic lives too!
Use the principles as well as place equal energy into all your lives,
the end
result will be balance in all five lives - which is what we all strive
for!
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