Pearl Reflection

The CFC Pearl Anniversary week just concluded and we had 650 International delegates from 41 countries.  There were about 100,000 attendees during the anniversary day.  It was very inspiring to see brothers and sisters of different nationalities embracing one culture, the culture of Christ.  Couples for Christ is now 30 years old and in 114 countries worldwide.  We look forward to the next 30 years of community life and mission.  Here are some of my reflections:

1. In Reaching the Pearl year, the community also went through the same process of how a pearl is made. For a gem to come out, it had to go through many challenges, or in the pearls case an irritation process.  The formation of a natural pearl begins when a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell, which irritate­s the mantle. It's kind of like the oyster getting a splinter. The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant to protect itself. The man­tle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl. from http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/question630.htm

Getting to 30 years is not an easy process. Yet, by God's grace he uses our challenges into the pearl of a community we see today.

2. We are brothers and sisters, regardless of race, nationality, and economic status.  As we immerse in the community, the love of Christ will be the language we speak.  We all share in the experience of His transforming love. 

3. The family is God's stronghold and the evil one will do everything to destroy it.  The work of strengthening family relationships to serve God and the poor is of great importance. In the words of Christopher West, "If one wants to take out the Church at large, one will first take out the Church in miniature."  The family is the domestic Church, the Church in miniature.  If we are to defend the Church, we must defend the family.  If we are to build a society of genuine justice, peace, harmony, and dignity we have to uphold to values and beliefs of the Church, starting with the family.  A Christ-centered society starts with a Christ-centered family.  Further Christopher West says, "the nucleus of the family is the love of man and woman."  This affirms the work of Couples for Christ in its 30 years of upholding the vocation of marriage and family life.

We now journey from Pearl to Gold.  A new generation arises, born from the love of the community's pioneers in mission.  Onward CFC!