by Jonathan Ross, Development Director
When the sun reaches a certain position in the sky, it must shine down on earth and through the big sliding glass doors of Ananda house just for Bobby. Every afternoon, he trades his wheelchair for space on an 8’ x 8’ mat. During these late afternoon hours, Bobby possesses extraordinary gravity. All who visit are drawn into his gaze; into his silent invitation to be: to be still, to be quiet (or noisy!), to nap, or to simply exist – in our joys or in our burdens.
The world expects so much from us. We move from place to place and from chore to chore, judged by the ripple our momentum creates. This is not Bobby. His value resides in his being, and chief among his gifts is invitation. The invitation is humbling and reflects our own vulnerabilities and deepest needs. In the community of L’Arche Tahoma Hope, spoken or unspoken we ask of one another: will you care for me? Can I be forgiven when I’m cranky? Will you wait for me if my legs are tired, and I’ve fallen behind? Will you remind me if I forget? Will you help me up off the mat?
It is easy to take for granted what we ask of others and to be mindful of what is asked of us. We get lost in the mechanics of expectation and the forward momentum of our routine. We may work together with friends, co-workers, and families, but the value of this daily dance is easily lost in the shuffle. The story of our lives that we long to write with one another, becomes a series of disconnected phrases, jargon, and incomplete sentences.
Our theme in community this year is invitation, and the way we are choosing to enter that theme is through story. And so we have an invitation for you: will you be in our story? Whether this invitation is mysterious for you, or is a call to connect more deeply with L’Arche Tahoma Hope, please know that you are invited. As you read our newsletters, attend our events, and you gather with us, we hope you will feel the call of this mysterious invitation and be part of this amazing story.
