Befriending The Stranger

'Tears and violence can be ways of protecting ourselves from what is unbearable, from our own vulnerability, from our fear of pain.'

In Befriending the Stranger Jean Vanier reflects on who we are and how we build our communities, and in particular asks, can we be truly compassionate towards others if we are not compassionate towards ourselves?

In a series of six meditative pieces, he opens up God's invitation to us today, in the midst of all the violence and corruption of the world, to create new places of belonging and sharing, of peace and kindness, where each one is loved and accepted with one's own fragility, abilities and disabilities. Jean Vanier is the founder of l'Arche and co-founder of Faith and Light, communities with and for people with disabilities. He continues to make his home in the first l'Arche community, in Trosly-Breuil (France), and to travel to give formation in anthropology and on the gospel message.

He shares his reflections and vision in a number of books including Community and Growth, Becoming Human and Made for Happiness (all DLT).