Every human being is part of something! To be part of something is almost a vital need, it gives more meaning and movement to life. And in general, if we consider the act of freedom, each one chooses what he or she wants to be part of, and if he or she has not chosen it. Being part of one or the other implies a “yes”! We could say that there has been a contact, a discovery, an identification, an analysis, a deepening and an adhesion. That’s it! You have become a part!
But what might seem like an end, turns out to be a beautiful and exciting beginning. To be a part is to prove, every day, a decision made. It is to take your part in a whole. If we start by saying that everyone is part of something, it’s because, in fact, nobody is a whole: we are all parts. We are parts that serve a Whole, that combine, harmonize to favor the Whole.
There is, for example, a Whole that was born on July 9, 1982. This Whole, with its new and happy proposal, attracted parties who wanted to communicate it, known, loved it. This Whole is somewhat demanding, but it has always been abundant in a mysterious dynamic, to give the parts much more than they offered to the Whole. Magnificent! A treasure found, which each party wanted to share.
In the heart the urge for discovery
The Whole allowed itself to be served by the parts in different ways. There was a part called to live from this Whole in its fullness. Another part participated in it with his whole life. Another part was attracted by the service of the other parts mentioned above, and that engaged, seeking to know more about the Whole.
These engaged are the parts of a so-called “Work”. In these years in which the Whole has been maturing and growing, the Work has played diverse roles, contributing more and more, conferring a variety and an admirable progress to the Whole.
The Work represents that part of the Whole that most expresses an enchantment for being part of something. They are those who arrived a short time ago, or not so long ago, that carry in their hearts the yearning for discovery, the desire to serve, to know and find the best way to BE part of the Whole.
The vocation of the Shalom Work
The person who has the vocation knows they are in the Work because they were called to be Shalom and to build the Work with their life, work and effort. It is necessary that the person feels deeply responsible for the Work and can identify with the person of the founder,to whom the Lord entrusted the foundation and guidance of the Community, as well as all the ones that are part of the Charism. (Shalom Writings – In the heart of the Work, in unity with the Charism, 9)
Thus, this Work is formed by people who have a glow in their eyes, who participate in each event proposed to announce the Whole, who fall more in love with each novelty about this Whole, who are moved by the songs that speak of the “yes” to this Whole. The Work is always in movement, learning and questioning, with attentive eyes and an open heart, also seeking good references on how to serve the Whole.
The Work participates in the Whole in so many ways! And in these years we can say that the Whole has expanded in such a way that we can no longer calculate where each “particle” of the Work is. The Whole has affected people who wanted to be part of it, no longer only in their controlled physical spaces, nor only in their presential events.
The Whole has left traces of His proposal of peace in many corners and nooks, in physical and virtual environments, in formal and informal descriptions of how the Whole is incarnated in the life of the ordinary parts.
An invaluable and incalculable part
The Work is beautiful! It’s an invaluable and even incalculable part. They are people, parts, that surprise when they emerge from the most unusual places, seeking more information about the whole by which it was captivated. Leaving the parts that are already in service with a smile of contentment and amazement, when they think: “How can it be”?
Work, part, that was built with people who had their lives transformed by the Whole, by God, through the Shalom Charism.
A Work that was called to be part of a Seminar of Life in the Holy Spirit.
Work that was called to be part by the most diverse events.
Work that was called to be part through the Sacraments: a Mass, a confession, a preparation for the first Eucharist or Confirmation.
Work that was called to be part by the intercession of another who was already part.
Work that was called to be part because of a song.
Work that was called to be part because of a play or any other artistic expression.
Work that was called to be part by an invitation on social networks.
Work that was called to be part because of something it saw or read on the internet.
Work that was called to be part because of something it saw on TV or heard on the radio.
Work that you were called to be part of because of something you saw or read on the Internet.
Work that was called to be part of because of something you saw on TV or heard on the radio.
Work that was called to be part because of the life of someone who was already part.
Work that was called to be part in another way that we don’t even know yet.
Work that may still be out there, wishing to be a part!
To you, Shalom Work, thank you very much!
Translation: Sérgio Godoy Jr.
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