Whiteboard

Apr 23

If I need to communicate with my local “house” community, where do I go? Do I pull out my phone? No. What about a computer and email? No. For the most up-to-date information about our community and world, check the whiteboard at the base of the stairs.

I live in a community of seven Oblates. Here is the reality - if one of us is missing for dinner, and you ask me where he is, there is a good chance that I do not know. This is not because we are secretive or sneaky. No, we just don’t have a great means of communicating our schedules. I’ve been living in this community for over a decade. I never thought much about this reality.

But something changed. About 10 months ago, I started noticing more information on the whiteboard. Messages like, “Away in Boston until Tuesday. AZ.” “Visiting alumni in Florida. Return Wednesday.RO.” “Away at Camp DeSales tonight. Can someone lead evening prayer? TM.”

You may be reading these messages and think, “So what!” Here is why I think this is a change. We started writing these messages without any prompting. There wasn’t a community meeting, email, or directive on the whiteboard. Instead, we wanted the community to know where we were. I think the change is clear. Even though the messages were giving our location, I think they really said, “Come. Share in my life.”

“Come. Share in my life.” This is not just the message on our whiteboard, it is the invitation of Easter. I’ve been seeing the message everywhere. Read these and repeat after each - Come. Share in my life.

Jesus’ words in Luke 23:43 to the person crucified with Him, "today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Come. Share in my life.
The Gospel of John 20:22 in the upper room after the Resurrection, “He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
- Come. Share in my life.
John 20:27. Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
- Come. Share in my life.
In the Eucharistic Prayer, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.”
- Come. Share in my life.
The opening to the Direction of Intention, “My God, I give you this day.”
- Come. Share in my life.