Tuesday, October 31

On Friday, October 13, I had aheart attack and was quickly taken to Emergency in anambulance whose siren cleared the road to thehospital in Compiègne.

Tests revealed that the main artery feeding myheart was clogged up. This required a surgeon toplace a stent in the blocked artery. After surgery, adeep weariness descended. I need serious rest. This iswhy I have been brought to a very special restingplace! A diocesan house at the sea-side, one thatwelcomes Christian groups and individuals for timesof healing and rest. This is where I am right now,supported and watched over by Odile, who was giventhe task of caring for me and my medical needs in myold age.

I feel well, but it's obvious that my heart isweaker and therefore me too. I need a good long restto recover my strength and better accept a lifewithout too many activities. So, with the leader of thefarm, Antoine Paoli, I have decided not to give any ofthe scheduled retreats, conferences and variousmeetings until early February. Three months ofserious rest without any activity.

NOVEMBER

2017

This is a radical change that calls me to live avery quiet life during this period, tucked awayin my Lazarus House in Trosly. A life where Iwill learn to live with my own frailty andweakness, in this way becoming smaller: "theKingdom of Heaven belongs to littlechildren", said Jesus. A life where, above all, Ican learn and keep learning a longer prayer:to remain in God, to remain in Jesus whosays: "Abide in my Love". It will be a bit like anew birth. Christine McGrievy, the leader ofmy L'Arche community in Trosly has given mean important mission: to stay close to God forall L'Arche's needs, and I add for Faith andLight as well. Just to be there, in order to livethe essence of our spirituality, in communionwith God and with all my brothers and sistersof L'Arche, Faith and Light and our greatspiritual family spread throughout the world.

For me, this new stage implies a certainletting go. Up until now, I have experiencedfriendship and support throughaccompaniment-meetings that have done mea lot of good: I will no longer have that graceand joy. I will also go much less to my foyer,the Val Fleuri, which has been and still is myjoy - while staying in touch with Pat, Doudoul,Anicette and all the others.

Quite a radical change! And then, little bylittle, we will see what I can take on again inFebruary and afterwards. In order to makethis new life possible, Christine and Odile willsort out the essential questions. This life willalso include reading (serious as well as light-hearted), walks in my garden where I willlisten to the birds… and there will also be the'joy' of eating without salt and staying awayfrom the foie gras pâté at Christmas! This lifewill not just be turned skywards but alsotowards the earth where there are so manyjoys and wonderful things.