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Growth begins when we start to accept our own weakness

Jean Vanier

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Jean Vanier
Age: 90 †
Born: 1928
Born: September 10
Died: 2019
Died: May 7
Naval Officer
Philosopher
Theologian
University Teacher
Writer
Genève
Learning
Start
Begins
Acceptance
Weakness
Accept
Accepting
Growth

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Look at your own poverty welcome it cherish it don't be afraid share your death because thus you will share your love and your life
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One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals.
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We have to remind ourselves constantly that we are not saviours. We are simply a tiny sign, among thousands of others, that love is possible, that the world is not condemned to a struggle between oppressors and oppressed, that class and racial warfare is not inevitable.
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The strong need the weak as much as the weak need the strong
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[Happiness] comes when we choose to be who we are, to be ourselves, at this present moment in our lives.
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Every child, every person needs to know that they are a source of joy every child, every person, needs to be celebrated. Only when all of our weaknesses are accepted as part of our humanity can our negative, broken self-images be transformed.
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It is only when we stand up, with all our failings and sufferings, and try to support others rather than withdraw into ourselves, that we can fully live the life of community.
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I believe every act of violence is also a message that needs to be understood. Violence should not be answered just by greater violence but by real understanding. We must ask: 'Where is the violence coming from? What is its meaning?
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Avoid the poison in your life that brings you turmoil.
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Community is not an ideal it is people. It is you and I. In community we are called to love people just as they are with their wounds and their gifts, not as we want them to be.
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Life is a succession of crises and moments when we have to rediscover who we are and what we really want.
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We work for peace every time we exercise authority with wisdom and authentic love.
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People may come to our communities because they want to serve the poor they will only stay once they have discovered that they themselves are poor.
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Wisdom is something that comes, little by little, through a lot of listening.
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A tension or difficulty can signal the approach of a new grace of God. But it has to be looked at wisely and humanly.
Jean Vanier
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I remember that throughout history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it always...whenever you are in doubt that that is God's way - the way the world is meant to be. Think of that and then try to do His way.
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It is difficult to make people understand that the ideal doesn't exist, that personal equilibrium and the harmony they dream of come only after years and years of struggle, and that even then they come only as flashes of grace and peace.
Jean Vanier
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So we need places, laboratories, the creation of places which could be each one of our homes, where we invite people who are different, and we listen to each other, people of different class groups.
Jean Vanier
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In any case, community is not about perfect people. It is about people who are bonded to each other, each of whom is a mixture of good and bad, darkness and light, love and hate.
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There is nothing stronger than a heart which loves and is freely given.
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