Presence and Bewilderment: falling in love with l'arche

June 6, 2011

falling in love with l'arche

I think it might be fitting that a first post to this blog would be some words from other people who currently live in L'arche communities.

I was just at the US Central Regional Gathering in Memphis, where L'arche community members came together from Chicago; Clinton, Iowa; Jacksonville, FL; Mobile, AL; Overland Park, Kansas; St. Louis; and Atlanta. The theme for the event was "Falling in Love with L'arche." (From Elvis's "Can't help falling in love," since we were in Memphis.) There was a time for folks to share with the group why they fell in love with L'arche / what they love about L'arche.

It was truly moving, and I took a few notes from what people shared:

true humanness and vulnerability, no masking of feelings
faith
new family members, a house full of sisters
*it's difficult and easy, happy and sad - to love, to live L'arche everyday, through tough and joyful times
the people, particular core members
belonging
acceptance
welcome
patience of core members
support - in death, in sickness, on bad days
love
cooperation
freedom, having my own room
God, the one above
community, daily pleasure to live in community
Jean Vanier's spirit
challenge to step out of comfort zone
it's all over the world

2 comments:

AnnieNovember 6, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Hi,

My name is Anne Henderson and I just discovered your blogs and literally have been sitting in my living room for the past hour, making sound effects and reading out sections to my roommate. I live in Nashville. I love L'arche. I love Jesus. I love almost everything you have written in your blog posts.
I would really like to talk to you if you would be willing. My email address is anne.henderson@gordon.edu.
I apologize for the random blog stalkage -- I googled "l'arche + nashville" even though I am well aware that there is no l'arche here and your blogs came up. When I read that you were seeking to gather a community of others interested in l'arche in this area, I assumed you wouldn't mind me sending this message.

I look forward to talking!
Anne
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JessicaNovember 12, 2011 at 4:43 PM
oh wonderful! i'm glad i happened to get on and look at the blog for a moment. i haven't really been directing people to it yet, and so haven't been doing much with it either. i will email you!
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About Jessica

From Texas, via Arkansas, Chile, and DC, I completed a Master of Divinity program at Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2010. I am now a provisional Deacon in the United Methodist Church in the Tennessee Conference.

After a year and a half of work as a Live-in Companion with 2 men with intellectual disabilities through a secular agency in Nashville, sharing life and being formed by L'Arche communities in Jacksonville, FL and Mobile, AL, I am now sharing life as House Coordinator in our newly founded L'Arche Atlanta.

What are intellectual and developmental disabilities?

Intellectual disability: formerly known as mental retardation, is characterized by impaired intellectual functioning and limited adaptive behavior.

Developmental disability: a condition that is significant and ongoing, begins before age 22, and substantially limits functioning in daily activities of living (may or may not include intellectual functioning). Some physical disabilities would fit in this category. So does autism (primarily social adaptive), though it can be accompanied by intellectual disability.

Examples of developmental disabilities include autism, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, spina bifida, and Williams syndrome.