I am now celebrating my third Christmas here in Vancouver. This week the scripture readings for the second Sunday of Advent tell us to take off our face of gloom. Truly wherever we are we must celebrate promise as it buds forth.
It is easy to let a feeling of depression engulf me in this ministry Downtown Eastside, as I am both blessed and burdened with a strong drive to make a difference. I hope that I can learn to rejoice in smaller blessings. That has been happening the last few months. I rejoice that we have been making some progress in building a small community of disciples here who are wanting to work together to “Imagine our Catholic Ministry” in the heart of the city. We are community building.
A small team is working hard to outreach to the neighbors. To strengthen bonds within our parishes. We want to miraculously renovate the old school that has served only as an unheated warehouse these past eight years. This will be done but the how has evaded us. It could become a great space for Parish functions as well as a facility to support “family life” in an area which includes a significant social housing component. To create even more welcoming spaces for new people.
Some of us are involved with promoting “Metro Vancouver Alliance”, a broad based alliance encompassing all faiths, unions and non-profit organizations. This alliance will exercise a power to move our society to respond to the needs of the marginalized. All these things are slow but they are, and they are moving.
I listened to a Podcast recently of Bro. David Steindl-Rast sharing marvelously about gratitude. His point is that when our hearts become “full” we overflow in thanksgiving. The image is a vessel that fills to overflowing, but he says just when we are welling up with gratitude someone reminds us that we need more in order to be satisfied and so our vessel continues to expand. We tend never to allow ourselves the experience of grateful satisfaction. Nothing seems to surprise us or give us a sense of awe. His advice: make the vessel smaller. Desire less and gratitude will flow over into thankfulness everyday. He points out that the poor in fact are more grateful than the rich, because small things are noticed and appreciated.
I had the privilege of visiting Kenya after an absence of three and a half years this past October. I accompanied a Mission Awareness Tour. Twelve Canadians joined me to experience the hospitality and welcome of the Kenyan people. It was a blessing for me to visit with friends and see the continued dedication of my Oblate Brothers who minister there. One of my remarkable days there found me having a cup of tea with a “grateful” young man now in his mid thirties. Douglas Ikunda had been associated with us and contemplated becoming an Oblate. That was not to be. Later he received an inheritance of a couple of acres of land at his uncle’s passing. We loaned him money to buy tea seedlings to enable him to get his new land into production a year or two earlier than would have been possible without that assistance. Douglas has paid off the loan and his tea is now almost at full maturity to produce optimum kilos. He has a small little house and hopes this year to buy a milking cow. After tending his tea meticulously for the past nine years he will have a net annual income of $2500 for his annual salary. He is just so grateful for our assistance and the blessings given by God to himself and his family.
This Christmas I want to thank you for friendship; for sharing my dreams; for sharing our Oblate ministry; for sharing our faith; for your goodness and giving me hope. May this Holy Season fill you with gratitude. Give thanks!
Ken Forster
As the vessel of your life overflows in gratitude perhaps you are looking for a significant need that respects, in an accountable way, the gift you give.
Cheques: “MAMI “ (Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate) 601 Taylor Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0C9 |
