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“A father’s communication with his many children… that is one of the most agreeable occupations of my life” 1857
I have noticed that the many who make up this Mazenodian Family are not as perfect as others, in fact it is often the imperfections that seem to stand out so clearly. And that we are all still loved, and rather than being cast out we are accepted even when it seems to take an incredible effort of the part of many to find a way to help us heal.
I think of a magnificent tapestry that when hanging from a high wall looks to be perfect. But the weaver of such a beautiful piece immediately recognizes that some of the threads are weaker than others and that with time could begin to fray, unravel and eventually even break. The weaver knows that it is from the weak thread that entire tapestry could begin to fray and fall apart. And so the weaver spends extra time and surrounds the weak thread by stronger threads so that together none of then will unravel.
I took the time to again reread the history of Francois-Xavier Bermond and rediscover how the community at times had to work very hard to ensure Bermond did not himself unravel, nor cause others around him to weaken the community in which he lived. And as he grew older it seems that Bermond did well: he was loved and more importantly he learned to love not just others but himself.
There were communities throughout my life that I did not “fit into”. But like Bermond, I fit into and become an integral part of this Mazenodian Family. Whether I am judged to be “capable” at the end of the day remains to be seen. But most certainly I am loved, accepted and able to grow in this family only because of the love and fidelity of those that I am surrounded by. It is you who build me up and carry me: it is because of this that I will perhaps one day be known for having served my community and the world around me with fidelity and the heart of a person who loved greatly.