Spring does not just belong to the Arab World

It has been a diverse week. 

We see the retirement of the Pope, the first in 600 years, and I read an article by Hans Kung asking if this was the occasion for a Vatican Spring.  This was the positive question amidst all the gossip and the stories that are presented to speak of the opposite. 

The Order is approaching General Chapter in September and I receive a reflection as part of a preparation tool that finishes with the great question - Are Augustinians on fire or is there even ignition? 

I have a good friend from Europe get in touch to share how a very strenuous divorce is taking its toll on her.  I cannot take away her pain and she is not asking that either.  Rather I share in return my honest belief that it is our chaos and messiness that take us to great heights and to the place where we deserve to be as decent human beings. 

My last week ended with the 25 Years celebration of NCCM (National Catholic Commission on Migration) for which I hold a role and responsibility.  We reach out to the migrants in Thailand and their families.  They are mainly Burmese.  The picture shows some of our charges who attend a school run by the Church for migrant children.  They're young and they're cute and they're full of life.  They're just children.  Yet their lot is tough as part of the local migrant population. 

This was a good introduction to the major part of my week which featured a Symposium on Migration in Greater Mekong Subregion.  It stressed that we all have rights and deserve our dignity no matter how harsh our lot may be and the lot of migrants in this part of the world can be harsh.  We heard from a migrant worker and despite all his suffering he spoke with hope and vision, asking for change to occur so that this population can enjoy the life that is theirs and not taken away just because they have to do the dirty work in a foreign land.  . 

Each part of my week presents its questions and challenges.  It is not depressing by any means.  I find it all life-giving as it all adds to the mix of life within which we can experience our own spring, a spring that is there for all to seize. 

Strength in Sharing Our Vulnerability

                                                    The Rescuing Hug

This appeared on my Facebook and I think it is really something.  It is the picture of a true story.  It goes like this.  Twin baby girls were born and one was not expected to live.  A hospital nurse fought to put them in the same incubator.  The stronger baby wrapped her arm around her sister, and her touch allowed the struggling baby's heart to stabilize and her temperature to return to normal. 


From my week in Bangkok, I have my own story I want to share.  On Sunday after mass and many other things, I was feeling somewhat worn out and decided to head downstairs from my apartment to have a beer with Nando, a friend and local restaurteur.  Well Nando was busy.   So I ended up sharing a beer with an American guy I know is local and whom I have seen around many times. 

It turned out that we were much the same age but had very different life stories.  He had been a sargeant in the US military and had seen action in Iraq.  Now he was retired in Bangkok with his Thai wife.  Yes, he was another farang in Bangkok with a crazy story that I do not need to go into here but he was also just so friendly.  His story had all the usual flavours of a Bangkok story between a western guy and a Thai woman but there was something about him that I liked and found refreshing.  What was it about him? 

It was that as he talked about his lot, he was actually so gentle and so realistic about it all, reflecting on the nature of his relationship with his wife.  As I listened to him, I found his level of honesty  and shared vulnerability to be disarming.  Needless to say, all these guys don't know that I am a priest and so I get to hear many stories as the fellow farang sharing a beer.  This guy was different.  He was refreshing - a wounded guy honest about himself and his lot; a struggler who was trying to make sense of his life and move on.  Something does happen when we share our vulnerability so honestly and openly. 

Lent reminds us of our vulnerability

Well, this week began with the shock announcement by the Pope that he is retiring.  This was his decision and a decision he made in all good faith.  It all makes sense and, for me, speaks of a healthy and courageous outlook on life and the Church. 

It has often struck me that a real gift in life is to know when to move on and it is a gift many seem to lack.  So I applaud this decision as courageous and as an act of leadership for the good of the Church and of the Pope himself.   

Yes, it breaks centuries old tradition that says that you remain as the reigning Pope until you die but tradition can be broken and recreated for good.  The Pope's decision reminds us of how vulnerable we are. 

That is a message of Lent which began this Wednesday.  Lent reminds us who we are, that we are not the all-powerful and in control beings that we might think we are at times.  Yes, we do have power; yes, we are strong for life and can do much; but we are also vulnerable.  Vulnerability does not mean weakness.  That is part of the mistake in our not wanting to identify ourselves as being vulnerable for we think that is just admitting that we are weak and no one wants to hide in corner for the duration of life.  That is not what vulnerability is about.  It rather calls us back to reality, reminding us that we do not stand alone and that we need God and each other in life and that our strength lies in our standing together more than in our standing alone. 

This was my message during mass when we went to the prison yesterday.  I had heard how violence is an issue in the prison and I imagine it is as ones fight and battle out their territory and grievamces.  It struck me that vulnerability is the key here for if I see myself as all-powerful, the strong and in control person, then I have to defend my ground when others threaten me or are seen to belittle me.  If, however, I recognise my vulnerability as a fellow human being, then I can see that I am human like everyone else and that we are in this together.  Life then becomes not about proclaiming to the world who I am.  Rather it becomes more about facing together the shared questioning around 'who am I?'.  Life then becomes a school of learning about what it means to be human together rather than an exercise in control to keep one's position on top in force at all times.  As we accept our vulnerability and listen to what it has to say to us, so we will show more respect to others and ourselves as well because we will understand each other and ourselves better.  When we respect others, we will not do violence to them.  When we respect ourselves, we will not do violence to ourselves. 

Fascinating

What is this week's item? 

We live in such a small world.  Here I am in Bangkok reading a report sent to me by a Franciscan mate in Sydney.  The report is from their Franciscans' International office here in Bangkok.  It features the issue of urban refugees in Bangkok, and specifically, the Pakistani Christian refugees coming here, and I think that is my ministry and work.  Then as I read it, I feel horrified.  It does highlight the dreadful situation these people face in ending up here, and that is true, but it is too simplistic in its understanding and approach, advocating that a way to go is to lobby the Thai Government. 

Yes, there are injustices but, no, they can't be solved by lobbying the Thai Government as the government does not recognise ones coming here as refugees but identifies them as being in the country without any legitimate visa and should then be dealt with under Thai law.  Their situation may not be that simple but that is the way it is here and has to be respected and dealt with in ways that are helpful and more diplomatic than just petitioning government.  Lobbying too strongly could lead to upset and problems in continuing to deal with and help this population. 

The report I read is based on the stories of the refugee population met by the Franciscans.  That is good but the person writing it and advocating ways ahead in acting for these people did not seek the other side through listening to UNHCR which is primarily responsible for them as refugees or as ones applying for refugee status and to NGOs and church communities helping them.  The other side is that, while there is tremendous need, this need cannot be met as we face a lack of resources.  The other side is that, while ones are desperately looking for help, they can be too aggressive in their demands and their demands just cannot be met as they want as it is not possible.  The other side is that UNHCR and other agencies have to act wisely and within their limitations and there are ways of dealing with these cases and with their issues at government and policy levels.

I go back to my motto for my work here in ministry - Do what you can! 

In this work of helping and justice, passion is involved but passion can go too far and it needs to be balanced by reason and good and wise action. 

What fascinates me is how I come upon this week's item for reflection.  It is about here but comes to me via Australia.