Time had an interesting article on Mother Teresa this week. Her collected letters and confessions was recently released to the public, and it occasionally shows a glimpse of spiritual darkness - sometimes a prolonged spiritual darkness.

The author of the article didn't get it. He (or she) worked from the assumption that for a saint to doubt is wrong. That assumption is wrong. Mother Teresa would never have become a saint if she hadn't doubted. It is in the valleys of faith that we grow in Christian character.

American Christians assume that if they have doubt they are failing God. We assume that if we dont' feel like we are growing it is time to switch churches. We believe that the valleys are sub-Christian. We think that being in the valley, the desert place, for any extended period of time reflects poorly on us as Christians. We hold that the mountain top is where the Christian life should be lived. If we aren't smiling we aren't saved. If we can't answer passerby's inquiries with "rejoicing in the Lord" we have failed to grasp the joy that He brings.

All of these assumptions are wrong. It is in the darkness of doubt that our faith becomes real. It is in stagnant swamp of mediocrity that we find our lack of control and need to surrender all. It is in the valley that we learn what it truly means to be a Christian. It is when we want to anser a "how you doin'?" with a "my life sucks" that we embrace honesty.

Mother Teresa didn't have extraordinary doubt. Mother Teresa had extraordinary honesty. If the American church could embrace the honesty that woman held, we too could share our stories of doubt and grief. We too could become saints boldly following Jesus.