02 July, 2012

Loving Relationships

Reflection 1


Lightly Cupped Hands

Jean Vanier founded L’Arche communities all over the world where people with and without disabilities live together. Jean exquisitely describes how to hold another in relationship. He demonstrates how to have lightly cupped hands as if holding a tiny, fragile bird. Not too open so the bird tumbles out, and not grasping so the bird suffocates. Lightly cupped hands support another while allowing freedom for change and transformation. Lightly cupped hands even allow another to fly away.
We are learning to hold those we love with lightly cupped hands! With lightly cupped hands, we are enabled to welcome those we love as they face the issues of their lives and arrive at their answers only providing a safe place to share the depths of their spiritual lives and honouring the decisions they make.  By providing sacred space and a compassionate listening presence, we offer room for  our companions to attend to God’s ever-present invitation to develop inwardly, make choices that have eternal significance and offer service to our world.

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