David Bayne enjoys an ocean view with Amani Forcatto (who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Anna Nichols (who lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
Our WMF community here in Buenos Aires desires to be intentional about building community. One way we live out this longing is by setting aside time for what we call compañeros/compañeras. We’ve made it a goal to create space in our lives to be deliberately present for one another. Basically, it’s a time when two staff meet together once a month to listen to each other within a context of love and friendship. Compañeros/as has been built into the life rhythm of the community.
In Latin America, depending on the situation, compañero or compañera can simply mean a co-worker or a fellow classmate. However, these two words may also have deeper connotations. Historically in times of struggle for liberation, justice and freedom from oppression and repression, those who were closely involved or supported the struggle called each other compañero or compañera. It implies a sense of solidarity and commitment, not only to an ideology or movement, but also to those on the same journey. Ernesto “Che” Guevara was once quoted as saying, “Si Usted es capaz de temblar de indignación cada vez que se comete una injusticia en el mundo, somos compañeros, que es lo más importante” (“If you tremble indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine”). We celebrate community because we understand that God has called us together to love one another and also to love those among whom we are called to minister. And so we believe that as we journey together as compañeros and compañeras in faith with God, this trembling indignation at injustice finds a good foundation for praxis in lives and communities marked by social justice and equality.
It’s a bit different from what has been traditionally known as discipleship, as valuable as that may be. The focus of this shared time is not the transfer of biblical information from one person to another. Rather, the focus is on being present and accompanying each other through different life stages, faith journeys and service to poor neighbors. We have found that being a community takes intentional effort and desire to grow in knowing, understanding and loving one another. Therefore, we may ask each other questions such as: How are you understanding your vocation and calling? What is stagnating the growth and health of your personality, spirituality, vocation, physicality, etc.? What is life-giving to you now? What is life-draining for you in your work? What is God calling you to in relationship with Him? With others? These questions are meant to help us reflect on our life in community, our faith and service as children of God and followers of Christ.
So why has our community decided to use the terms compañeros and compañeras and not the more contemporary idea of “spiritual accompaniment”? Two important factors guided this decision. Firstly, “spiritual accompaniment” limits and separates by its very definition. The term “spiritual accompaniment” subtly elevates the value of the spiritual and immaterial above the physical and material. However, where are our bodies during this form of accompaniment — do we forget about them? Furthermore, the fact that the accompaniment is labeled “spiritual” still subtly puts forth the idea that body and spirit can be separated from one another, as if we could somehow dissect and physically pull apart the spirit from the body, or thoughts and feelings from our bodily existence. In other words, it dichotomizes the human person, a concept that is foreign to the biblical understanding of the human being as a whole, integral being. As we accompany one another, we seek to encompass much more than just the spiritual — we use our bodies in accompanying one another. There is a phrase in Spanish that expresses this commitment, this presence: poner el cuerpo.1 Our physical presence is essential. So during compañeros/compañeras we may decide to eat and drink together; we hug one another; we look at one another, listen with our ears, and try to understand with our hearts and minds; we gesture, speak and laugh.
The author of the Gospel of John expresses this idea of accompaniment well. In speaking of Jesus’ incarnation, he writes, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Thanks be to God that we have in Jesus of Nazareth a Savior who accompanies us in order that we may be compañeros o compañeras to one another.
ENDNOTES
1 Poner el cuerpo (literally, “place your body”) is an expression used to describe personal involvement and commitment in a given situation and not simply an involvement at the level of words or ideas.
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