Jean Vanier, A Saintly Man

I was saddened by the news this week that Jean Vanier had passed from this world.  He was ninety years old so he had lived well beyond the biblical three score and ten years.  From what I know he had truly lived all the years well before and after that biblically allotted milestone.

Much has been written about Jean and I am sure much more will be written in the years to come.  I can only add that I believe he truly was a wonderfully loving and humble man.  I never met him personally but met him through some of his writings and more importantly through his legacy of L’Arche, the communities for people with intellectual disabilities which Jean founded.  The following information comes from L’Arche Canada Foundation website:

In L'Arche, people who have intellectual disabilities and those who come to assist, share life and daytime activities together in family-like settings that are integrated into local neighborhoods. L'Arche in Canada has nearly 200 homes and workshops or day programs. These are grouped into what L'Arche calls "communities". There are 30 communities of L'Arche located across Canada from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island. L'Arche communities are open and welcoming of neighbors and friends and often engage in various collaborations at the local level.

I was introduced to the L’Arche experience when I was study theology at Huron University in London Ontario.  One reading week we were given the opportunity to be part of the community for a few days at L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario.  Those few days, now almost twenty years ago, had a significant impact on me and I am still connected with the community in different ways.  One of the ways which affected me was the way in which the residents were accepted as regular parts of the community by those with disabilities which were not so evident.  I have come to know and realize that we all have disabilities, some of which are more evident to others and some less.  I believe that time has helped me to accept my disabilities and, I hope, be a little more accepting of the disabilities of others.  I must admit that I am not always very successful at that.

One of the most memorable encounters I had with people at L’Arche Daybreak was meeting one of the residents who always asked the same question of people he met, “where’s your home?”  That question took me aback and I realized that it was not an easy question to answer.  Where I live is easy, but where’s my home would require more reflection and exploration.  I believe I am still exploring that question.

Jean Vanier was an example of the power of love to change the world.  His life changed the lives of so many through the love that he shared with other.  That love, in turn, was spread throughout the world in all the L’Arche Communities and far beyond.  As Jean said, “We are not called by God to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.”  His life was truly a life lived with extraordinary love.  Jean is now at rest in his heavenly home.  Rest eternal grant him, O Lord., and let light perpetual shine upon him. 

Blessings on your journey