Behold The Man*

A Letter from Jean Vanier

This was the reply I received from Jean Vanier, the founder and Director of the International Federation of L'Arche, after I wrote to him on behalf of the Ark Housing Association*. He died** on May 7th 2019, aged 90.

Thank you for your newsletter and the news of the home in Morningside. I rejoice for the men and women who will make it their home. For that is your purpose, as far as I can see: to permit handicapped people to be at home, to be in their home.

This, of course, demands a lot of respect towards them on the part of us all, management, committee or staff or whatever we call ourselves. We so quickly want to be "the boss". And yet, our role is just to serve those who have been hurt frequently by lack of consideration, sometimes even rejection, to permit them to attain that fullness they deserve as human beings and children of God.

And for handicapped people to find their home it is often necessary for other people to live and share with them, to make of the home, their home also. Thus community is born, community that gives security and is essentially a network of relationships.

Yes, a home to be a home is not just a physical house made of bricks and mortar but it is safe, faithful, living and respectful relationships.

When handicapped people find these safe relationships, their hope is reborn. This hope is strengthened when visitors, friends and parents help the handicapped people to be well inserted in the city and the village. Thus a whole network of support and encouragement is created.

May God's blessings be upon you, His light guide you and may you be strengthened by His gifts.

* L'Arche was the inspiration for the Ark Housing Association. I was associated with setting this up in 1977, to provide community homes for people with learning difficulties. The first home, in the Morningside area of Edinburgh, was one I often enjoyed visiting.
** From the obituary for Dr Jean Vanier in The Economist, May 18th-24th, 2019.
"For him L'Arche was rooted in his following of Jesus. ... But his arms were wide open to Hindus, Muslims, Jews and those of no faith at all, as long as they acknowledged that at the heart of the universe, bringing everything together, was love."

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10th April 2020

I have for the past few weeks been trying to process the revelations of abuse about Jean Vanier.
larche.org.uk/news/inquiry-statement

I feel a sense of personal hurt.

But by its openness and honesty L'Arche has shielded the vulnerable people in the communities he inspired.

When we place someone on a pedestal there is only one way for them to go.

Winston