First Things
As we prepare for our next gathering be sure to read Dave’s note below, as it will serve as the starting point for our conversation. Also, please RSVP via the comments section as we’ll be sharing lunch together at Ha Ha’s Grillhouse and will need to let them know how many of us to expect (Note the “Upcoming Events” section on the sidebar. This will serve as a reminder of when and where we’re gathering).
Into The Question
Most of us work in neighborhoods with mixed incomes. We have people with much and those with very little. I assume the poor are a part of our communities. I tend to interpret Jesus as being for and with the poor, and take seriously (but maybe not seriously enough) the Matthew 25 passage. The idea that noticing and caring for the marginalized is like caring for Christ himself. Likewise ignoring them is just like we are ignoring Jesus.
The Porch has called West Central home for 2 years now. As we have more and more homeless and semi-homeless(not sure if this is a term, but seems to be a reality) I am learning about a world that has existed all around me. This world includes payees, social services, police, prisons, mental disorders, violence, love, generosity, laughter. . . a whole range of beauty and mess.
At this point we are trying to offer friendship. This seems to be good. The rub for me comes when there is crisis, usually with housing or with the law. Many of our friends are not stable enough to keep a place for more than a month at a time. Others are routinely in trouble with the police, often because of bad choices, but others are targets of police harassment. I wonder how much we should help. I can easily spend days working on one problem like chasing down an overworked pubic defender to find out what can be done for someone who is incarcerated, usually with little result.
How does your community do when it comes to sharing life/ministry with people in poverty? What do you struggle with? Where do you see hope?
Looking forward to the conversation.
Dave Wilkinson
The Porch
I’ll be there.
yes…food in belly I will put.
looking forward to the gathering
John is making us some killer food. Looks like it will be family style at 10 bucks per person.
Let us know if you are planning on being there!
Dave
I’m going to be there
Dew & Oil…my pastoral life among friends….http://fcb4.blogspot.com/2010/03/dew-oil.html