by Sue Hudacek, Volunteer Coordinator

I love this quote from Mother Teresa: “I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness!” This is certainly not a sentiment we hear in the media these days. When we look in the dictionary for the meaning of faithful, we find words like loyal, constant, staunch, to be true, devoted, dependable. There is a power in this word. Faithful implies a long-continued and steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by duty or obligation, such as a faithful friend.

On September 10, Jean Vanier turned 90 years old. Jean is a man of incredible faithfulness; a man who, at the age of 36, dedicated his life to two men, Raphael and Phillipe. Jean left academia to follow his inner voice and what he felt was a spiritual calling. He knew that, by inviting Raphael and Phillipe to live with him, what he was doing was irreversible. As we wish Jean a very Happy Birthday, we should also thank him for 54 years of incredible faithfulness. He has certainly given us an example to follow.

I am privileged to spend a few hours with Sharilynn Heinzman every Wednesday. Sharilynn is also a woman of great faithfulness. Once you have entered Sharilynn’s life and heart, you stay there. When she says, “Get back where you belong. Stay there,” I often think that is her way of keeping those she loves close. She mourns Lu Farber, a faithful friend who recently passed away. She misses assistants who no longer live in L’Arche but are never far from her thoughts. She waits a year for Nicole to return and spend a month once again at L’Arche. Throughout the year, Sharilynn will look at an airplane and say, “There goes Nicole!” while she waits for her to eventually land in Tacoma and back in her place. She also remembers a beloved core member, Becca, who no longer lives in L’Arche, but is near her heart.

Another example of L’Arche faithfulness is Sharilynn’s good friend, Sr. Madeleine Farrell. Becca used to be a core member at Ananda. For many years Madeleine visited Becca weekly. She would often have to take two buses just to get to Becca’s home. Over the years, I have been privileged to take Madeleine and Sharilynn and sometimes Ricky to see Becca. I cannot express in words the joy, the delight and the contentment when these faithful friends see each other. Recently, Becca fought her sleepiness in order to glance, smile at, and delight in her friends. I glimpsed God’s faithfulness, through the hearts and eyes of these amazing friends.

Yes, faithfulness is a powerful word. It does not mean we have to do great things; it just means we have to keep showing up for those we love and those who care for us.