Hi everyone,

 My time as I have said is very interesting, but also a real place to grow spiritually.  I know there are people who question my time here, resent my being here, wonder why L'Arche?  I was reading Henri Nouwen's book "Adam" again last night and was struck by a particular pasage.  Henri was a writer, a teacher, a wonderful thinker.  He was was visited by a friend one day...listen to this passage...

 "When my friend came into the New House and he saw me with Adam, he looked at me and asked "Henri, is where you are spending your time?" I was that he was not only disturbed but even angry. "Did you leave the university, where you were such an inspiration to so many people, to give your time and energy to Adam? You are'nt even trained for this! Why do you not leave this work to those who are trained for it? Surely you have better things to do with your time.  ...I was shocked.  My mind was racing, and I thought but did not say "Are you teling me that I am wasting my time with Adam? You, an experienced minister and a pastoral guide! ...What my friend was saying made sense to him because he didn't really "see" Adam, and he certainly wasn't prepared to get to know him. ...My daily two hours with Adam were transforming me.  In being present to him I was hearing an inner voice of love beyond all the activities of care.  Those two hours were pure gift, a time of contemplation, during which we, together, were toughing something of God.  With Adam I knew a sacred presence and I "saw" the face of God.   (pp 52-53).

 I could go on with this book, but I would encourage people to pick it up and read it.  It is a wonderful easy read.  This section touched me because I know if people came in and saw me with this community and core members, they might ask the same thing of me.  I would simply respond as Henri did.  This time so far of a month has been transforming.  It has rooted me into the call to live and love simply.  To form community, to risk to enter into it and to allow myself to be transformed by God's spirit which lives and breathes and dances in this place.

 With just the core members in our house, I have learned so much about myself. With Mike Ricci, his lack of sight calls him to trust, to reach out and take the arm of someone and be guided.  Mike has calld me to take the arm of God and allow God to guide me during my time at L'Arche. Do I know the end result of this journey? Do I know what lies ahead of me? Can I see all the twists, turns, up hills, down hills? No, but that is trust.  Last night as I helped dry off Mike and he put on his housecoat, he lost his balance and began to fall backwards and I caught him.  He has to trust that someone is there if that happens.  He also got out of the van last night and was disoriented without his cane...again he cried out.  I rushed out of the van and ran around and comforted him and reasured him, all was okay that I was there and told him of his own balance and being able to stay standing. Again for me to know there are times when I will be disoriented spiritually, and may cry out, but must believe that God will be there to calm me and agin allow me to take the wondrous arm and be led home.

 John Bloss, cannot speak easily.  He searches often for something as simple as who we just went for coffee with or where.  He remembers his medication, when his foot needs to be tken care of.  I must listen to his voice carefully and am beginning to understand his short phrases.  He is so mischevious, so loving and so often as I have mentioned before he gives me a squeeze on the arm and the occasional kiss on the arm or even the ckeek if I am bent over the counter or close enough for him to do this.  John is 58 and a proud man who longs to be independent.  John has taught me that God is like his voice. I need to be attentive to be able to hear when God speaks to me and try and distinguish what is being said.  It is experiencing God in the silence of John, yet the visible presence.

 Tom is our artist.  he loves to paint, to draw, to make pottery and candles. Tom is also very prayerful and thankful.  He is contantly saying he is going to pray for someone.   When I attend Dayspring or Mass with him, he is aware of the space in which he is.  He sees people, notices stain glass, sculptures.  In his creative spirit, he appreciates beauty, in nature, in at and in people. Tom has called me to be aware of all around me and God's hand within.  He has found an inner space also to bring this beauty with him and celebrate it with his heart.  Tom then turns outward again to soak in more beauty and then to turn back in.

 Mary Anne is our little burst of sunshine.  She is our sparkplug who greets each morning, encourages all things such as seting tables, cleaning counters, putting away dishes.  She loves to sing, to hear music and just goes into a space when listening.  He has the capacity to both be ull of energy and again to sit and appreciate.  She is our "Mary and Martha" of the house.  I hear the call from her to allow both Mary and Martha to exist inside o me. To se to what needs to be done, but also to sit and be and absorb around me when I need to let things drop.  Nothing is more important than these people at the moment they need me. Mary Anne loves to holler at me "Jeff, (sometimes George) what are you doing?". I hear that call not to always be doing something, but rather take that time of "being" also.

 Kara, can often be heard explaining "Jamaica, which airline goes there?". Kara is taken with airplanes and loves them with a passion.  Kara loves to sing and loves to dance.  I just haveto start a song and a little dance and Kara joins in with me.  Kara also celebrates the little moments and turns them into major life changing events.  I remember her winning a game at a baby shower which the whole community attended.  She won a tattoo (which comes off) and showed it around, yelling and dancing almost fainting as if she had won a trip around the world and got to keep the airplane.  Her enthusiasm sweeps you into it.  Getting a strike brings a holler throughout the alley.  Again she dances and you want to start a circle dance with her.  Kara has taught me to be swept up in life's little moments and share them with people with great love and great enthusiasm.  No event is too small or to insignificant.

 So as Henri says: "For many years I had reserved the word 'Incarnation' for the historic event of God's coming to us in Jesus.  Being so close with Adam I realized the "Christ Event" is much more than something that took place long ago.  It occurs every time spirit greets spirit in the body. ..It is God's ongoing incarnation whenever people meet each other in God's name. My relationship with Adam was giving me new eyes to see and new eas to hear.  I was being changed more than I ever anticipated." (pp 53-54)

So I can connect with Henri has said in these two passages.  I hope you can understand why this experience is where God wants me to be at this time. So be aware of how God is trying to communicate with you.  It will be in the way you least surmise.  Until next time....

Jeff