Associates News Visitation East
Truro News
A quick note on our meeting here yesterday… the Truro associates met on December 3rd, five associates were in attendance. We opened with a prayer-song of Welcome… Anna Rowley shared on the 40th anniversary of Associate Relationship and Social Justice Action. We also talked about our Community Sharing Project, which we will begin in 2022. This sounds exciting, and very worthwhile. Then, we enjoyed a shared Christmas meal celebration, relaxed, and hugged each other, and extended a wonderful Spiritual and a Happy Christmas time, all around.
Sincerely, Truro associate, Joan Fraser
Development And Peace
Romans 8.35 reads, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Of course, the answer is that no one and no thing can do that. That love cannot be kept to oneself, it has to be shared. That’s what makes it love. Pandemics cannot separate us from that love, so it behooves us to show kindness to each other in a difficult time and also to remember those in parts of the world who, for example, have no access to vaccines. The nativity stories tell us of the forgotten, the excluded, the rejected, and those no one cares about. These stories call us back to our roots as followers of Jesus. They can help us to truly have a meaningful and holy Christmas celebration. At this wonderful time of year, we want to express lots of gratitude to all of you who keep our Diocesan Council family alive in so many ways. Through outreach to the stranger, and witnessing to our faith, and your beautiful presence on our Council, you make the love of Christ real in a world so very much in need of it. May the joy of the Christmas message fill your hearts now and throughout the coming year, thank you for your love and support in our efforts to make life better for our neighbors in the Global South, well done, good and faithful,
Adah Ogbe and Winnie Odo
The simplest of events can make a remarkable difference. I recently relearned this. One of my cousin’s children, tiny four-year-old Thea, sparkles with enthusiasm. After my visit, I was just ready to get into my car when I heard my name called. I turned to see Thea racing down the long, sloping lawn, looking like a wee angel with invisible wings, barefooted, no coat on in the unusually warm December air. “I made a gift for you,” Thea said as she held out a small square post-a-note with nine squiggly lines drawn across it. I expressed my sincere thanks, although not understanding what the lines meant. Thea detected this and explained matter-of-factly, “I can’t do words but I can draw.” Then she added, “You like oceans, don’t you?”
“I can’t do words but I can draw.” Those seven words engraved themselves on my mind. They’ve helped me make some sense out of how to enter a new year still ruled by Covid-19. Thea gave me the beauty of the ocean and a gift of her passionate, loving spirit. She didn’t have what she needed, couldn’t yet put into words what she hoped to convey, but found a creative way to express and offer her gift.
I think of the year ahead and the continued issue of Covid, the easy freedom and societal openness of the past still unavailable. However, a lot of the goodness in life remains. Like Thea, I don’t have the words but I can draw. I can make the best of what I do have, instead of grumbling about what I do not have. I can adjust to how life currently presents itself and stop trying to push life back the box of “normal.” Which is not to deny any of the difficult situations as we enter 2022. Pope Francis focused on this challenging reality in his January 1st homily: “We are still living in uncertain and difficult times due to the pandemic. Many are frightened about the future and burdened by social problems, danger stemming from the ecological crisis, injustices, and by global economic imbalances.” While all of this and more continues to concern a stressful society, I believe much of value and benefit equally exists among us: generosity, kindness, dedicated service, supportive relationships, great books, inspiring music and art, plus the grand beauty of the natural world. Lots of dedicated people are currently working toward the well-being of humans, creatures, and our planet Earth. American environmentalist, Paul Hawken, declares hope in this regard when he writes about “…the growth of a worldwide movement that is determined to heal the wounds of the earth with the force of passion, dedication, and collective intelligence and wisdom. Across the planet groups ranging from ad-hoc neighborhood associations to well-funded international organizations are confronting issues like the destruction of the environment, the abuses of free-market fundamentalism, social justice, and the loss of indigenous cultures. … While they are mostly unrecognized by politicians and the
media, they are bringing about what may one day be judged as the single most profound transformation of human society.”
And so I step into 2022 with a positive outlook. Like young Thea, I intend to value what I have and do what I can to share it in a beneficial way. How will you enter the new year? What will your attitude be toward the future? Please join me in holding hands with Hope.