Is sending the elevator back down enough? Thoughts on accompaniment.
John Freund, CM
Author
John Freund is a Vincentian priest with a passion for promoting collaboration among the many people inspired by Saints Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac and who welcomes your engagement. Share your ideas and experiences!
Where’s the piccolo?
Systemic change does not just happen. It takes the collaboration of many people with different gifts. Each of us has a role in the chorus.
Do Vincentians Really Have the Smell of the Sheep?
The first time Pope Francis caught our attention with the image of the “smell of the sheep” was a mere two weeks after he became Pope.
The Power of Stories 2.0
Yes, stories are wonderful for capturing attention. But I also learned that stories often just capture a moment in time. Narratives are about a movement over time and speak to our worldview. To that degree, they engage and motivate us.
Does the Daily News Overwhelm You?
We might not be able to accomplish as much as St. Vincent. But we can all do the next right thing… realizing something must be done and asking the Vincentian Question, WHAT MUST I DO?
Lessons from Nature – Systemic Change
The gift of a closing prayer drawn from nature.
Vincent Was a Life-Long Learner
Vincent was a life-long learner. Vincent didn’t just happen. Vincent spent his lifetime waking up to the demands of the Gospel and the needs of those who were poor. I am reminded of the monk Bede Griffiths, a life-long learner, who said in the 81st year of his life...
The Secret Sauce of Systemic Change
The best way to help the poor is to respect them, to stand before them as an equal, without any masks, privilege, without any authority other than love and respect. And love will help you persevere in spite of the disappointments and the failures and the lack of honesty that we have to deal with almost every day.
There Must Be a Path Here…
Are there any events that in retrospect changed your life? Have there been times when you realized how much good came out of something that seemed so bad at the time?
Questions, Questions, Questions… the Most Important Question
Knowing that something must be done and being brave enough to ask ourselves, “What must I do?” is to know “What would Vincent do?”
