Nov 2010 The Road to Daybreak A Spiritual Journey by Henri J M Nouwen

Continue from ...... Searching for the Right Words Words, words, words! Tonight we start a "reflection weekend." All day I have been looking in the dictionary to find the French words for a talk I must give tomorrow to all the assistants of the community. I am also struggling to find a way to maintain some spontaneity while speaking in a foreign language. My desire to make no mistakes can inhibit my freedom of expression. But too many mistakes are distracting and prevent people from hearing the message. My main problem, however, is on a much deeper level. How do I speak to people whom I perceive to be more converted than I am? I have been asked to speak about hope in the midst of a world full of despair. But what can I say about hope to people whose lives are a living proof of hope? The 250 assistants here at L'Arche have left home, career, and wealth in order to live simple lives with people who are considered useless by the world. This is certainly a radical way of proclaiming hope. So I feel as if I am carring coals to Newcastle or, as the Dutch say, "bringing owls to Athens" or, as the French say, "bringing water to the river." But whatever expression you use, it is hard to speak well to the converted! I know I must speak because I have been asked to speak, and proclaiming the Good News is my vocation. In this case, I trust that those who will be listening tomorrow will be able to hear beyond my limping words, will be affirmed in the choices they have already made, and will help me to believe so strongly in my own words that I will find new courage to put them into practice. Occasionally the main fruit of speaking is the conversion of the speaker! With that hope I can go ahead and let my words do the work for me.

- To Be Continued - © Copyright Shalom 2010. All rights reserved.