Anam-cara

The anam-cara experience opens a friendship that is not wounded or limited by separation or distance. Such friendship can remain alive even when the friends live far away from each other. Because they have broken through the barriers of persona and egotism to the soul level, the unity of their souls is not easily severed. When the soul is awakened, physical space is transfigured. Even across the distance, two friends can stay attuned to each other and continue to sense the flow of each other's lives. With your anam cara you awaken the eternal. In this soul-space, there is no distance. 

 

- John O'Donohue in Anam Cara

 When I read this reflection this morning I felt this was a perfect description of the Associates Relationship.  It is a friendship, a special friendship that remains alive, connected to others over the distance, attuned to what is going on in the lives of fellow Associates and Sisters, Servants of the IHM, and a unity to each other that helps us all to reach out for that soul-space offered to us by God.

The Circle reminds me of the links in a chain and how each is stronger when combined with others, each belongs to the group, each receives support when needed and each can then reach out and bring in others.  

Even with Sister Mary Hugh living in Our Lady of Peace now, she is still part of our Circle of Grace.  We may not talk (email) daily or even weekly, or hear through the grape vine (Sister Kerian's trips and visits north) but we are still connected.  That friendship is alive and her shared wisdom is felt in many ways.  During the Retreat this year there was a session spent with other Associates and a Sister that you did not know.  The purpose of the session was to find out what that Sister would like to experience with the Associates and what the Associates would like to get from the relationship with the Sisters.  After the session I came back to our table where Sister Mary Hugh was already sitting and asked her what did she want the Associates to get from the Circle of Grace relationship.  I will never forget her answer.  "I wish you joy."  Such a simple statement; however, it reflects who she is, what she believes, how she has lived her life and how even now she helps me to live my life.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on this reflection.