Ode to Revolution

The Bastille today

After two and a half weeks away in marvelous Norway and wonderful Paris, I could bore you with a photo parade, but I would never subject you to such punishment.  Instead, I share an insight gained.    

While in Paris, I was excited to go see the Bastille, the location of the defining moment of the French Revolution.  When taken there, I asked my good friend, an expert on Paris - Where is it?  To which I was assured that I was looking at it.  What I saw was a monument surrounded by traffic.. This is it?    

Is this where the revolution led?  It makes me reflect on how to feel about revolution, as a concept for embracing and engendering life.  It exists. It is.  It ever challenges us.  It ever gives us life.  I believe this for revolution is a tool for living the gospel, which is about the transformation of life.  

The gospel assures us that the human quest for more to life, the fullness of life for all, the vision of God for history are always possible where we are, but none of this just happens.  Here lies the challenge to revolution - the revolution of the gospel.  

In the midst of much suffering, we may say that people are resilient and so esxcuse ourselves.  But then I remmeber hearing a poor woman remonstrating - "Stop telling me I am resilient.  I just want to live life like everyone else."

Even if it fails, revolution is ever the call of the gospel, for that allows the gospel to be lived, for it offers the transformation of our whole self, humanity and our world.  My time away in places of beauty and wonder, rich in culture and history, tell me that, no matter what, life is good, a banquet offered for all to savour and enjoy.  In the midst of a harsh and routine reality, this vision is easily lost.  Is it not a revolutionary goal and challenge to ever behold and pursue?  

Life is meant to be celebrated

Sunday 5th October marked 20 years, to the day, that I first arrived in Bangkok, to begin working with and helping migrants and refugees.  For me, this is amazing!  It is a feat I could never achieve alone.  I am sure God is in this, a humble landmark for me, in mission and life.  

As it naturally happened, my anniverasry was observed at mass, for it was also the Church's World Day for Migrants and Refugees.  God works in mysterious and wondrous ways, as the timing of this enabled me to issue a call to our faith community, to help a Migrant Learning Centre for Burmese children, situated in the north of Bangkok.  What better day to reach out to migrant children.  

When two of us arrived from church, at their humble centre, their community had just finished a celebratory lunch to honor the birthday of one of their own.  So the children were already gathewred in good spirits.  I found them so welcoming and hospitable, attentive to my presence and my needs.    

They reminded me that ones supposingly so little or insignificant in the order of our world have so much to tell us and teach us about life.  They often do so in their humble and simple ways, if we only take time to listen.  While we may be busy with many things, they are there waiting to show us the way how to live life with gracefulness, humility and dignity. 

As I go on a time of sabbatical, their gracious voice and kind actions send me on my way.  Life is a celebration, neither measured nor determined by worldly wealth, power or status.