Henri Tempier had been away from the “slavery” of the administrative work of the Diocese of Marseille for a few weeks, spending time with the Oblate community of Notre Dame du Laus. On his return to Marseille, Eugene wrote to the superior of Laus:
Father Tempier has returned much better than when he left; that shows that we are better in our home with our own people than when we are in slavery.
He reiterates that at the heart of the Oblate the important thing is to be connected with the life of the family and to live the Rule of Life in practice in community. Physically separated from the community, he does his best to live this in spirit in the circumstances where God has placed him. Wherever he is, he continues to be a part of the team.
Men can take things as they wish, value things as they please; as for us, we long only for the happiness of being concerned with our family, living according to the letter and not just according to the spirit of our Rules, as we are obliged to do in the position wherein God has placed us, where however we do our best.
Letter to Pierre Mye, 16 June 1824, EO VI n 144
“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.” John Wooden
I have gone all around and through this today. Being a team player, being a part of something, being a member of a community, of a family. Myself – on my own – that never quite works out, it didn’t years ago and I seriously doubt it ever will. It’s simply not how God created me, how I have been called to be.
I remember years ago while working in a particular job I was more or less on my own, doing a particular job that no-one else did. At first it was pretty good, I did good work, did my job well and I was the only one there doing that. Pretty important. I loved the praise. The pressure though to produce, to get it done fast, to have it be perfect was brutal. No one else to share ideas with, question, ask for advice, to learn from, to give support to or get support from. Deadening, for me absolutely deadening. And I finally moved to a new job where I was able to learn to function as a member of a team, working together, drawing from and giving to each other. I had much to offer them and they had even more to offer me. After having been the star of my own very little world it was not always easy, in fact it was downright brutal sometimes learning to be a very little star in a great big huge galaxy. I started to learn to be a part of something bigger than myself. I started to find my way, and what I was good at and what I wasn’t so good at, what I needed help with.
I have said that it is since being in relationship with the Oblates, with the Oblate Associates, with the Oblate/Mazenodian family that I am becoming, that I am realising who God has created me to be. I am more alive than I have ever been before. A very little star shining brightly in a much bigger cluster of stars. Letting go of myself in order to be myself.
Readings like this reaffirms for me our call to community.
That a part we/I slowly work more and loose sight of the ministry as part of the community and not “my” work alone.
Eugene use of the word “slavery” is telling of his psychological fatigue at that time. I think he felt trapped and overwheld at this time in his life!