Working for Justice and Peace: The Journey of L'Arche by Melissa Florer-Bixler

For several weeks after my husband broke his hand and was restricted by a large, obtrusive cast, I would find him hunched over his shirt attempting to work stubborn buttons into their holes. One-armed, he tried tying shoelaces, zipping plastic bags and wrapping his arm for a shower, each time silently refusing to ask for help.

My husband reminds me that the desire “not to be a bother” is more deeply engrained than any of us could imagine. Our aversion is evident in experiences of short-term physical illness and in the difficult questions of medical ethics. The L’Arche community is a sign of something else breaking into the world. L’Arche is a place where dependence is embraced and weakness is upheld as virtue, where brokenness is requisite for daily life together.

Learn about the history of L'Arche communities, and the benefits they offer to all who are involved— read the full text of this article in the July/August 2008 issue of Horizons.

Call (866) 802-3635 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/ December 2008 issue (HZN-08-250; $4 plus shipping).

Melissa Florer-Bixler is a graduate of Duke University’s Department of Religion. She is assistant director of the Moreau Center at the University of Portland in Oregon and is an extended community member of L’Arche Nehalem.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Florer-Bixler. The Western Regional L’Arche Gathering in Spokane, Washington, a time of celebration once a year for all the communities in the West.

Other Articles Online This Issue

Proclaiming the Gifts of Holy Wounds
Giving Demons Their Due
From Brokenness to Wholeness
Eight Steps to a Sounder Mind
Shopping for Justice
Dispatch from the Forbearance Presbyterian Church
Mosaic
Working for Justice and Peace
Faithful Parenting


Learn about the history of L'Arche communities, and the benefits they offer to all who are involved— read the full text of this article in the July/August 2008 issue of Horizons. Call (866) 802-3635 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/ December 2008 issue (HZN-08-250; $4 plus shipping).	The Journey of L'Arche by Melissa Florer-Bixler For several weeks after my husband broke his hand and was restricted by a large, obtrusive cast, I would find him hunched over his shirt attempting to work stubborn buttons into their holes. One-armed, he tried tying shoelaces, zipping plastic bags and wrapping his arm for a shower, each time silently refusing to ask for help. My husband reminds me that the desire “not to be a bother” is more deeply engrained than any of us could imagine. Our aversion is evident in experiences of short-term physical illness and in the difficult questions of medical ethics. The L’Arche community is a sign of something else breaking into the world. L’Arche is a place where dependence is embraced and weakness is upheld as virtue, where brokenness is requisite for daily life together. Learn about the history of L'Arche communities, and the benefits they offer to all who are involved— read the full text of this article in the July/August 2008 issue of Horizons. Call (866) 802-3635 or subscribe to Horizons or order the November/ December 2008 issue (HZN-08-250; $4 plus shipping). Melissa Florer-Bixler is a graduate of Duke University’s Department of Religion. She is assistant director of the Moreau Center at the University of Portland in Oregon and is an extended community member of L’Arche Nehalem. Photo courtesy of Melissa Florer-Bixler. The Western Regional L’Arche Gathering in Spokane, Washington, a time of celebration once a year for all the communities in the West. Other Articles Online This Issue Proclaiming the Gifts of Holy Wounds Giving Demons Their Due From Brokenness to Wholeness Eight Steps to a Sounder Mind Shopping for Justice Dispatch from the Forbearance Presbyterian Church Mosaic Working for Justice and Peace Faithful Parenting	Current Issue JUL/AUG 2008 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the July/August 2008 issue, HZN-08-230. to Horizons or call (866) 802-3635 this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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