Luke Smith, Executive Director and Community Leader
January 15, 2021
I sometimes find myself, on my way home from L’Arche, driving down 16th St and into downtown where the White House, Capitol, and the monuments rise before me. I can, every once in a while, tucked into our corner of the city, forget that we as L’Arche GWDC are in Washington, DC, the capital of the USA.
What we cannot forget, as we live in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, is the need of L’Arche. The acts of violence, the loss of life, and creation of fear are threats to not only our city and nation but also to our way of life and what we as L’Arche stand for.
We cannot forget the need of our L’Arche way of life; as a sign of how we can live together, peacefully and unified in our differences, finding meaning in sharing our views, how each of us sees, experiences, and engages in the world around us, recognising and accepting the unique and sacred value of each person.
I’ve been reflecting upon what we have learnt from 2020 – I believe we have learnt we have a voice. And our voices are something others need to hear. I think of:
- the voices of celebration and forgiveness that resonate in our homes.
- Charles’ testimony
- The voices of friends checking in to see how we are doing
- Michael reminding us of our shared history
- L’Arche across the world meeting to discuss and reflect upon the International Charter process, helping shape the International Charter for years to come.
- Too many other examples to name
All of this happening as we continue to be impacted by the hope of the vaccine, and the grief and fear of the ever growing litany of names of people who have died from Covid-19.
As we live through these strange and at times scary days, I hope that we can find hope and solace in the sign that L’Arche is, and in these words from Isaiah from the reading for the feast of the Epiphany
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Isaiah 60:1-3