Hi everyone,

Tonight I took Mike Ricci, a core member from our home at Centre Steet out for coffee at Tim Horton's.

Upon entering I noticed a developmentally disabled woman sitting by herself surrounded by various bags and Tim Horton's cups and bag.  At first I thought she had Parkinson's or MS but then saw her talking to someone who as not there. She reminded me of John Smeltzer, a core member from New House. John is a wondrous man with a sacred story who is developmentally disabled.  He has very lucid moments, but at a certain point he begins to talk to someone only he can see.

Well sitting at the table next to me was a young man and women in their early 20's.  I looked over as the young man flicked a piece of something at the disabled woman.  They both laughed. I was so angry and glared at him.  He llooked over at me and I caught his eye.  Within 15 seconds they left without looking back at me. If he would have done it again, I was going to stand up and go between him and the woman.  I wanted also to say, "Here is Mike Ricci, another developmentally disabled person, do you want to throw something at him also?"  I would then have invited him to come to Dayspring and see these wonderful people in action, to get to know them and their stories.  Would he see them differently?  He was the one who was disabled in my eyes.

During my 10 weeks here thus far, I have come to appreciate the beauty of our core members, both the inner and outer beauty.  The photo above are of Robin and Mike (laying down) also of New House.  They are wonderful people.  Robin has an infectious laugh and Mike has his own video of his life story and has a sense of inner freedom that I envy! Why is it that people are so scared of those who seem different? What is it that is so insecure within us, we would toss something at another human being? Why is it we are afraid of someone so fragile as this woman?

It is easier to do that and to get to know someone and their story.  We stay on the outside and we jusdge by perfection, by outer beauty, by accomplishments to define value in this world.  But the gospel does not.  it looks at the heart for beauty.  Mike and Robin as well as all our core members are God created and what we might see as weakness is a strength that touches our weakness. There are some tremendous stories of pain and abandonment.  L'Arche has taken in people in need of a home, of love.

This community amazes me as how much care and love is shown to our core members.  We have become so interwoven with their stories.  We have been welcomed with our own life journey by them.  They have opened their homes, turned themselves over to us in trust.  They invite us to see the beauty in brokeness, to find God, to find ourselves.

I guess I was not really appalled as much as I was saddened that this man did not take time to see beyond this woman's appearance to see the beauty and life transforming story she wanted to offer him.

Until next time.

Jeff