Luquinhas, as they were and are known, the Renewed University Ministry members (MUR in portuguese), before called project (PUR) or Secretaria Lucas (from Luke, the evangelist. The word Luquinhas derived from Luke) , of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, were motivated by an ideal. They called it Dream. What was this dream? Their attitudes seemed a bit diffident in some aspects to believe that they really had an ideal such as the revolutionary ones which arose along the history. What have they done? They prayed in groups called University Prayer groups (GOUs in portuguese). Their goal was to evangelize in the university through these groups. They believe that this experience would lead those who participated in, to be a better person and that once the student had an encounter with God, he/she would translate this experience in the daily life of the society, exerting their job ethically and under the gospel light.
The fact that they were in an university was contradictory. It seems that living a faith, specially christian and catholic, considered by many as a hindrance to free thinking, was too audacious, to the point of challenge the intelligence of some people as well as the status quo that faith and reason were dichotomous.
The most intriguing issue was the twinkle in the eye that characterized them. This twinkle, according to them was not simply a personal decision of them, but the encounter with somebody that changed the way of living and think.
Would this experience be called a dream? Apparently it was an intimate one. Would it bear the fruit proposed? or would it be an utopia?
Despite the questions this Dream completes 20 years.
From Viçosa, countryside of state of Minas Gerais, ir reached the whole Brazil and even some places of the world. Generations pass by, new ones arise and it remains there, questioning and being questioned, disquieting, being target of controversies in a so difficult environment, but seeking the fulfillment of their mission.
Nevertheless i'm not an observer. I'm a witness. Once I was reached by this dream. It started for mw in a different way. I was watching a TV report showing a conference specific for university students organized by the church. At that time it was called national conference of catholic charismatic university students (from portuguese (ENUCC). I saw them praying for on another and I liked that. I thought: When I enter the university I'll creat a group like these. I had no idea what was that like, but I wanted.
I lived this reality. I was 17 that time. A naive and immature teenager in a jungle of knowledge and relativism that was the university. I could have an experience with God, get mature with it, deepen with it, and also dream with a new world and figure out myself exerting a profession with ethics and love. It motivated me to be a better person and to do differently because I also have had an encounter with someone who changed my way of thinking, and also of living. I could look for differential skills because God made me unquiet through the dream. Yes. I had a dream.
Time passed by and I still have a dream. I lived and I live many challenges. Each day a challenge bigger than the day before. But the one who generates dreams is bigger than the challenges. I made many friends in the whole Brazil, who are a family I can count on.
After 20 years in the place were it had begun, in the Federal University of Viçosa, and seeing many generations making the dream real, there's no way of not being grateful to God who gave me the dream and made me who I am. In a world where everybody is motivated to despair, I was motivated to dream a dream thar filled my life and has consequence in other people's lives. Today the fruits of this dream can be seen in the companies, in the universities, in public institutions... If I am a pharmacist who wants to work with love and is not satisfied with anything less than the highest ideals, knowing my job can change somebody's life, is because in my life existed renewed universities.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário