This theme is a fascinating one, and I hope that we may experience a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to be of service in our search for its life-giving meaning as we let in the warmth of its message.
My lifelong journey as a missionary sister – living a variety of experiences on three continents over the span of almost five decades – has truly been blessed by the unique grace of many encounters. As I go down memory lane, I can visualize, and almost feel, the vitality, the energy, and the sense of purpose lived by entering unknown paths, where I was greeted and enriched by different languages, cultures, traditions, and environmental diversity.
Let me share just one of the many experiences of encounter that has positively marked my missionary life.
Soon after I arrived in Kenya the first time – in 1983 – I felt that, everywhere I turned, people were very eager to express their joy at my arrival. Whether at the market or while going to church, or even just walking on a side road nearby home… the warmth communicated through the gesture of a very intentional handshake (as the Kikuyu people do, for instance), usually followed by a few questions to discover a bit about where I was living, conveyed to me a very clear message: in this place life reaches out to embrace you. I just had to be open to the encounter!
It is this demonstration of joy at meeting a new person that would reassure me that everything would be fine, as people greeted me with: “sisi tuko pamoja” (Kiswahili term for “we are here for you; we belong together!”)
As I reflect on the flow of blessings received through encounters such as the one just mentioned, I feel compelled to encourage as many people as possible to trust the beauty of life’s endless goodness, revealing itself through the mingling of cultures and languages, religions and traditions, songs, foods and dances, happiness and sorrows, both near and far.
Whenever we engage in the sacred mystery-adventure of encountering others, a new door opens before us. At first, we may seem to be on an uncharted path, but after an initial surprise, we realize that life has for long been a place where shared celebrations occur.
To allow encounters to happen makes for the revelation of abundant life. Tempted, as we often are, to give quick answers to complex questions – and then move on to what comes next – we are reminded that genuine life awaits whenever and wherever encounters are allowed to take place.
Pope Francis continually underlines the importance of taking time to recognize the gifts embodied in every human being, because “each person is a gift.” Not only that, but also “each life that we encounter is a gift deserving acceptance, respect, and love.” We know that God does this with each of us first. Then the journey inevitably becomes a mandatory two-way street, where there is no need to fear because sisi tuko pamoja.
Note: Article initially written for the Catholic Virginian, Richmond, USA
