Oct 2016 The Road to Daybreak A Spiritual Journey by Henri J M Nouwen

(Continue from) The Way to a Second Childhood   This morning I wondered what the Gospel reading would be. Often I have the feeling that the Gospel of the day will tell me all I have to know. I read, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. In truth I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Mark 10:14-15). That is so special about a little child? The little child has nothing to prove, nothing to show, nothing to be proud of. All the child needs to do is to receive the love that is offered. Jesus wants us to receive the love he offers. He wants nothing more than that we allow him to love us and enjoy that love. This is so hard since we always feel that we have to deserve the love offered to us. But Jesus wants to offer that love to us not because we have earned it, but because he has deciced to love us independently of any effort on our side. Our own love for each other should flow from that "first love" that is given to us undeserved. As I was reflecting on Jesus' words, I started to see more clearly how Daybreak could help me not only to receive the little children, but also to become like one of them. The handicapped may be able to show me the way to a second childhood. Indeed, they can reveal to me God's first love. Handicapped people have little, if anything, to show to the world. They have no degrees, no reputation, no influence, no connections with influential people; they do not create much, produce much, or earn much. They have to trust that they can receive and give pure love. I have already received so many hugs and kisses here from people who have never heard of me and are not the least impressed by me that I have to start believing that the love they offer is freely given, to be freely received. My dream is that Daybreak can increasingly become a place where the first love of God is revealed to people anxious to prove they deserve love. A house of prayer and welcome, in which handicapped people could receive guests searching for God, might be a concrete way to exercise the ministry of that first love. During the meeting of the Daybreak board today, I expressed some of these thoughts. The members - lawyers, doctors, and businessmen - were very open and very receptive. They themselves had come to know witin their busy lives that they, too, need to hear that still small voice saying, "I love you whether you are important or not, whether you are a failure or not, whether you have money or not, whether you are handsome or not." They had joined the board of this unpretentious community because they wanted to stay in touch with that voice. A New Family A new family! I have been invited to make the "New House" my home. It is the home of Raymond, John, Bill, Trevor, Adam, Rose, and their three assistants, D.J., Heather, and Regina. I am staying with them for this short visit, but it appears as if I will live here when I return in August and make this my permanent home. It is a remarkable family. Rose and Adam are deeply handicapped and need constant attention and care. They cannot speak or walk, feed or dress themselves; they live in a world seemingly impenetrable. They need to be dressed, washed, fed, and carried. Only when they sleep can they be alone. Raymond, John, Bill and Trevor are quite independent compared with Rose and Adam. They speak a lot, go to workshops during the day, and can help with small tasks in the house. It was a special joy to see Raymond again. He was completely recovered from his October accident and looked better than before. He didn't remember me at all, but his parents had told him so much about me that he received me with special kindness. We soon became friends and spent quite a bit of time together. D. J., the house leader, is a very caring twenty-four-year-old Canadian who gives all his time and energy to his Daybreak family. Heather, from Omaha, Nebraska, is finishing her year in the house and will return to her family within a few months. Regina came from Brazil and will soon be joined by her sister. Living in community is not going to be easy for me. But after two days with this family, I already feel a desire to come back and get to know them all more intimately. That is all that counts for the moment.

- To Be Continued - © Copyright Shalom 2016. All rights reserved.