It's difficult to put the time spent at L'Arche into words, so I'll half try. The other half of my attempt will be pictures. Here is a couple of pictures of the town to Trosly-Breuil and one of the chapel at La Ferme. The L'Arche community is scattered through out the town in a number of houses. La Ferme is a collection of old farm buildings now used by L'Arche as a retreat centre, an office, accomodations and a chapel. There is another "compound" called The Fountain that is another collection of multipurpose buildings. Apart from La Ferme and The Fountain, L'Arche is simply homes in the town in which disabled people and the assistants who care for them live.
This is the baguette that brought me to tears. It was one of those "life is good" moments. We had strolled around the town the evening before, it's so quiet, peaceful and calming as well as rustic and beautiful. The French country side is anything but hicksville, it is soothing oil poured over any troubled heart. The next morning we went into one of La Ferme's ivy clad stone buildings to partake of breakfast. The building looks like the kind of thing a North American building would try to imitate for effect, except this one just "is." Not only that, it effortlessly just "is." Upon entering, in the corner of the foyer was a large brown paper bag with about 20 baguettes. Even the bread delivery is a thing of beauty. Breakfast was fresh brewed coffee and milk in a bowl and a baguette with jam, which you see pictured above. The sun was shining, birds were singing, we were in France, we were at L'Arche, we were calmed and soothed, we were enfolded in hospitality and here was this simple perfect bread that was good beyond words. It was a tip of the tounge taste of just how good a restored world will be, and so breakfast was accompanied by a tear.
Lastly, here's a few pictures of Jean Vanier. While walking about Trosly-Breuil on that first evening we chanced upon Jean Vanier out for a walk. It was… mystical? There's one of him in his study where he writes and works, that's where we interviewed him. I can't wait to see the footage to watch it over and over again. It's always speacial talking to people who've had an impact on our lives, but this different somehow. As Travis said, "I think I'm going to be a better human being for being here." And it wasn't an exaggeration, it felt that way for all of us. Afterwards Jean graciously let us take some pictures and then bid each of us goodbye with a customary kiss on each cheek.
More to come as I go through more pictures. *BTW, I couldn't take pictures with Hipstamatic so these are all hand photoshopped hipstamaticatized.
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