October 2007 The Road to Daybreak A Spiritual Journey by Henri J M Nouwen

. Continue from ...... Painful but Precious Memories A sunny Sunday! My father came to visit me. Travelling with a friend from Holland to Switzerland, he decided to come through Trosly to see where and how I am living now. He attended the Mass I celebrated for the L'Arche community, ate dinner with some of the members of La Ferme, the contemplative community founded by Pere Thomas, visited the Irish group, and had tea with Madam Vanier. It was a special joy to listen to the stories Madame Vanier and my father had to share. She was born in 1898, my father in 1903, and though their lives have followed quite different courses, they have common memories of a part of history I know only from books. Madame Vanier's experiences at the Canadian embassies in Paris, London, and Algiers and my father's experiences in a Dutch law firm and university were connected by their common experiences of the Second World War. During the war years seven European governments were in exile in England. During that period the Vaniers lived in London as representatives of the Canadian government. They came to know, often in bomb shelters, Dutch officials who were quite well known to my father. And here they were, drinking tea in 1985, talking about a time I scarcely remember. They mentioned names of people who were once quite famous but are now forgotten and relived frightening and exhilarating events which are hardly real for latecomers like me. How strange that this cruel war was the context of my vocation to the priesthood and Jean Vanier's call to a life among the poor. Our parents taught us something about God that is hard to teach to a generation with no memories of bomb shelters, the destruction of large cities like Rotterdam and London, and the constant fear of death. Seeing and hearing these two strong people speak with each other made me aware of a mystery of human and divine love far beyond words and gestures, revealed here for a moment in a casual encounter over tea.

- To Be Continued - © Copyright Shalom 2007. All rights reserved.