The Year We Built Trust
Calista, Amber, Tim, and Matthew sat down to reflect on a year of shared life at L’Arche—its challenges, joys, and quiet transformations. What unfolded was a window into a community learning how to trust each other, how to grow through conflict, and how to show up—again and again—in love. The group gathered around this question posed by Tim: “What are you most grateful for from each other over the last year?” What followed was a powerful exchange of vulnerability, humor, and deep gratitude.
Over the past year, Amber’s journey has been marked not just by milestones, but by the deep, often fragile work of building trust. When asked what she was most grateful for, Amber didn’t hesitate: “Understanding. I’m grateful for people bearing with me as I went through one of the hardest stages of my life.” Tim honored her vulnerability and acknowledged the collective learning: “Thank you for putting up with our growth, too.” Calista also reflected on this theme of mutual growth as she shared, “I see a lot of myself in Amber, and I think Amber sees a lot of herself in me. So, being able to love Amber has given me the ability to love myself in a capacity I was never expecting.”
Matthew recalled a conversation at Amber’s one-year anniversary with Julie McGowan from the Georgia Advocacy Office, who noted how rare it is for transitions like Amber’s—from a nursing home back into community life—to succeed. Her insight captured the heart of Amber’s story: “Amber was willing to meet the community, and the community was willing to meet Amber. That’s where the magic happened.” It echoed the truth that trust wasn’t a given. It had to be earned, exchanged, sometimes tested, and slowly nurtured.
Amber’s trust was forged through shared moments of care, conflict, and small, powerful gestures. She recalled one hospital visit when, through the presence of familiar faces like Jessica, Calista, and Erin, she felt she “just knew you all were going to be there for me because you hadn’t left me before.” These loving acts built a foundation where Amber could begin to trust those living in community with her.
Now, Amber moves through her days with a sense of belonging and possibility. She’s been swimming again for the first time in years and started checking items off her bingo card of life goals. She dreams of getting her college degree and advocating for others like her. She’s claimed the Clairemont house as her home. Amber’s journey has become a mirror for everyone around her—showing that when trust is offered and met with care, community becomes not just a place to live, but a place to thrive.
Over the past year, Amber’s journey has been marked not just by milestones, but by the deep, often fragile work of building trust. When asked what she was most grateful for, Amber didn’t hesitate: “Understanding. I’m grateful for people bearing with me as I went through one of the hardest stages of my life.” Tim honored her vulnerability and acknowledged the collective learning: “Thank you for putting up with our growth, too.” Calista also reflected on this theme of mutual growth as she shared, “I see a lot of myself in Amber, and I think Amber sees a lot of herself in me. So, being able to love Amber has given me the ability to love myself in a capacity I was never expecting.”
Matthew recalled a conversation at Amber’s one-year anniversary with Julie McGowan from the Georgia Advocacy Office, who noted how rare it is for transitions like Amber’s—from a nursing home back into community life—to succeed. Her insight captured the heart of Amber’s story: “Amber was willing to meet the community, and the community was willing to meet Amber. That’s where the magic happened.” It echoed the truth that trust wasn’t a given. It had to be earned, exchanged, sometimes tested, and slowly nurtured.
Amber’s trust was forged through shared moments of care, conflict, and small, powerful gestures. She recalled one hospital visit when, through the presence of familiar faces like Jessica, Calista, and Erin, she felt she “just knew you all were going to be there for me because you hadn’t left me before.” These loving acts built a foundation where Amber could begin to trust those living in community with her.
Now, Amber moves through her days with a sense of belonging and possibility. She’s been swimming again for the first time in years and started checking items off her bingo card of life goals. She dreams of getting her college degree and advocating for others like her. She’s claimed the Clairemont house as her home. Amber’s journey has become a mirror for everyone around her—showing that when trust is offered and met with care, community becomes not just a place to live, but a place to thrive.
Community Moments
|
|
|
|
ConTACT US Phone: 470.582.0008
500 S. Columbia Drive Decatur, GA 30030 |
We often survey different audience belonging to varied demographics and psychographics. QuestionPro provided us unmatched features to tailor our surveys to suit different types of audiences, collecting all the insights we need.