The L'Arche Canada Foundation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada for Saturday, 12 March 2016 "I was happy"

The L'Arche Canada Foundation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada for Saturday, 12 March 2016 "I was happy"
I was with a little group of about one hundred young people. There was an American Indian woman in the group and she said, “ I was happy until I got to the age of five and then I discovered that people saw me as different and I have always felt humiliated to be who I am since then.” When we talk about a compassionate society, what are we talking about? We are talking about how to see people behind the label. How to see that vulnerable heart.[Jean Vanier, Address to the Business Community, April 05]
---------------------The L'Arche Canada Foundation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada for 

Friday. 11 March 2016 "

Fear of Pain"

We don't want to look at disabled people, so we create protective situation to keep us at a safe distance from any form of pain. Then we can leave quietly and gently in a world of dreams and illusion. Everything is okay and everything is going to be okay. I will not be confronted by the presence of pain. And if there are people in pain, it's their fault.[

Jean Vanier]

---------------------The L'Arche Canada Foundation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada for 

Thursday, 10 March 2016 "

Winners and Losers"

There are always winners and losers; that is why we have international football matches, We must prove that we are the best. And, if we are not the best, we are in total depression. We live in a world where people are cut off one from one another and our group must be the best and prove it. So we look down on each other. This is how we can justify the unjustifiable and make it possible to close ourselves totally away from the cry of others and to justify inequalities."

Jean Vanier"

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The L'Arche Canada Foundation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada for 

Wednesday, 9 March 2016 "

Justifying Indifference"

There are always good theories to justify indifference. Apartheid is still among us everywhere. We are not together as human beings. There is no real equality. This attitude is very deeply grounded in a prejudice that tells us the other can teach me nothing.[

Jean Vanier]

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The L'Arche Canada Foundation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada for 

Tuesday, 8 March 2016 "

Helplessness"

Why do we hide from pain? Because, we feel helpless. Because, we have the feeling of being manipulated by forces that surpass us and there is nothing we can do. Because there is no answers to the world problems. Because there is no answer to my own problems. Because there is no answer to our communities problems. Because we are confronted by a world of conflicts. But can we hide from reality? The answer is either let's build walls to protect us from pain or let us be lead to compassion.[

Jean Vanier]

The L'Arche Canada Foundation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada for 

Monday, 7 March 2016 "

Can I trust?"

Very deep in our culture is the conviction that you can't trust. Communion and mutual trust is nothing. What you have to do is to prepare yourself for struggle and autonomy because you will be abandoned. But yet, the cry remains: is it possible that someone loves me and be interested in me and see me as unique?[

Jean Vanier]

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