I truly believe that Orthodox Christians have something to learn from Jean Vanier’s message, which is built upon personal stories of transformative experiences which he gained by simply choosing to live, on a long-term basis, with persons who have developmental disabilities.
Of course, he did this with great devotion, which makes all the difference.
From that decision, those relationships, and their blessed life together (which, though laden with human brokenness and many inner struggles, has, through these very things, become a place of healing for both the persons with disability, Jean, and those who came to assist him) has come a model for a mode of living that reflects in a highly tangible manner Christ’s Way of love, which includes openness and appreciation for others who are different from ourselves, in the setting of a shared living arrangement which through Christ has become a community (actually, many communities): L’Arche.
