A Visit from Sue Mosteller
Last week, Sr. Sue Mosteller visited L'Arche Portland as the last stop of her journey through L'Arche communities of the Pacific Northwest. On Thursday, Sue spoke at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, sharing "Travel Tips for Your Heart's Journey." Nathan Ball accompanied Sue throughout her Pacific Northwest journey and introduced her as a lifelong friend and someone who is trusted by many. She shared personal stories about her friendship with Henri Nouwen and the ways their relationship transformed her.
On Friday, Sue joined our assistants, core members, and office staff for an intimate gathering. We shared snacks with Sue then gathered in a circle to ask Sue questions and hear stories. Nathan invited all of us to share our names. Sue followed by speaking about the importance of our names and how sacred it is to hear someone say our name. Perhaps that is one of the most important "ordinary things" we do with "extraordinary love" at L'Arche. We make sure that everyone feels heard, is seen, and hears their name being said.
One of Sue's greatest lessons is about our gifts. We each have unique gifts that we can offer to our communities and to the world. As part of a community, we must take time to recognize and acknowledge the gifts our friends offer. We must remember to say "thank you."
To conclude our gathering, we blessed Sue and Nathan each with the "beautiful song," which goes:
Sue you are beautiful, Sue you are strong,
Wonderful to be with, carry us along
Sue you are a loving song.
Marilyn loves to bless others with the beautiful song and was ready to sing it to everyone in the room. This is one of her many gifts.
Thank you, Sue, for joining us and sharing your wisdom, stories, and jokes.
Thank you Nathan Ball and Joan Winchester for accompanying Sue throughout her travels.