Someone beyond greatness…RIP
We have a very sweet book called, Something Beyond Greatness: Conversations with a Man of Science & a Woman of God in which light is shone on a few exceptional human beings who have dedicated their lives to world service.
One of these remarkable people lost her life in the tragic Haitian earthquake last week. Zilda Arns Neuman, known as the Brazilian “Mother Teresa” had just given a speech in a church before it collapsed.
A Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Dr. Arns Neuman founded a charity in Haiti, called the Children’s Pastoral. It aided children, pregnant women, and families. CNN reported that she was back in Haiti attending a religion conference and teaching classes to organization leaders in Haiti when the quake hit.
When asked by authors Judy Rodgers and Gayatri Narain what advice she would give to someone who came to her saying they wanted to dedicate their life to serving humanity. She replied (pg. 96):
“Such a person has already gone halfway by even asking such a question. Now is the time to ponder how precious his/her life is. Life is a thing not to be wasted. Such a person must ponder over violence and inequality, over how much God means Love. Then they will experience the feeling that God has given them the capabilities to become an instrument of peace, justice, and solidarity. Love fulfills life” Dr. Zilda Arns Neuman
This was a woman whose career was inspired by pictures and movies of missionary doctors working with destitute people with malaria and of children who played in sewers. She could have bypassed the humanitarian work and opted to become a successful pediatrician in Brazil.
Luckily for the people she helped and those she inspired, Dr. Arn Neuman chose a selfless path.
It’s impossible to find words big enough to utter when it comes to this colossal act of nature. It almost feels pointless.
Life is not a thing to be wasted. Zilda Arns Neuman’s was one to first salute and then learn from.
May her memory live on.
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