Living Gently In A Violent World

Book Review.
Hauerwas, Stanley. Vanier Jean. Living Gently In A Violent World. The prophetic witness of weakness. IVP Books. 2008
S.H.- professor of theological ethics at Duke Divinity School, Duke University.
J.V.- founder of L’Arche, an international network of communities where people with or without intellectual disabilities experience life together as fellow human beings who share a mutuality of care and need.
Comment. Henry
It was through the writings of Henri Nouwen that I first heard about L’Arche. These communities demonstrate a level of care for needy people that is truly amazing. I think it takes special gifts to provide that care. Having said that, a read of a book like this is good for anyone who is serious about responding to the exhortation from scripture to be Christ-like, i.e. caring for the needy. To live gently in a violent world is a challenge for all of us.
Jean has lived with people with disabilities for over forty years. He began L’Arche and has seen it spread to communities in many countries. This organization began as a Roman Catholic community but is now very ecumenical. “In L’Arche we have always had to work at interreligious cooperation, and today we are confronted with many new realities.” (27)
“L’Arche embodies the patience that is absolutely crucial if we (the church) are to learn to be faithful people in our world.” (45) We live in a world that believes that safety can be achieved by violence. “Speed and placelessness” (51) are part of that violence. In total contrast to such a mindset we have the communities of L’Arche.
There is too much focus on global and not enough focus on catholic in our world. “Non-violence is a sign of hope that there is an alternative to war.” (55) L’Arche is an example of such non-violence. Referring to the mining practice of using canaries to warn miners of poisonous gases, “L’Arche may be the church’s canary”. (56) However L’Arche also needs the church.
Fear and weakness are walls that effectively divide humanity. People with disabilities have a greater need to be accepted than to be changed. Change is actually brought about through acceptance. Accepting weakness is part of understanding reality. “The politics of gentleness” (77) must be part of any attempt at administrating justice. It is the practice of gentleness that qualifies L’Arche as a dispenser of justice.
The fear that turns us in on ourselves will always result in a natural response of violence. Such violence happens when we refuse to acknowledge our woundedness and loneliness. Love overcomes fear. We must become people of peace. Jesus is our model and he also provides the resources to live a life of peace. “In Jesus, time has been redeemed for the practises of peace.” (105)