A Letter from Executive Director, Wes Tillett
Through Hope, LUM Makes All Things Well
All is well? Look at our times. Not all is well: pandemic, poverty, injustice, stress, strife. Yet Julian of Norwich’s words reassure us that even though not all is well, all shall be well. Julian did not live in a time when “all” was “well.” She lived through the Black Death and Peasants’ Revolt of her times. She suffered through serious illnesses herself. Julian’s confidence in the ultimate wellness of “all manner of thing” was not based on serene circumstances but on the marvelous and often mysterious goodness of God.
Clients have left their countries of origin to pursue a brighter, safer future in the United States. Oftentimes their immigration is prompted by difficulties such as domestic violence, persecution, civil unrest, and poverty. Other times their immigration is prompted by a desire to reconnect with a spouse or children, or to pursue a degree or career.
“All shall be well, and all shall be well,
Julian of Norwich (born 1343, died 1416)
and all manner of thing shall be well.”
God promises to make “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:38). At Christmas, we recall the scene of God bursting into the night to announce, “Peace on earth; good will toward all people” (Luke 2:14). Wellness is what God does. It’s what God will do. All shall be well. Boosted by this hope, we are able to move beyond the paralysis induced by despair. We can face painful situations and, rather than cower in a corner, reach out in love.
Every day and night at Lafayette Urban Ministry, painful situations are encountered. And every day and night, because of your generosity, LUM is able to help make “all things well” by responding with the courage born of hope. Merry Christmas! May you experience wellness and rest this Christmas season.
