So, I have been working at my job for quite some time now. Our office has been one of the busier offices, not to say anything that we are doing right, it's just that we offer a few services that other offices do not offer which allow us to see clients more regularly as they are able to have their mail delivered there, pick up voice messages, use the computer to check if anyone has emailed them about job opportunities, check the weekly job postings sent by a local distributor, and much more. In getting to know some of the clients pretty well, it has been quite encouraging, challenging, and puzzling.
There is one lady who has been coming quite regularly since we got there. I am told that she wasn't a regular in the office until both myself and the other summer director got there towards the middle of June. She has been coming quite regularly... She typically checks her mail, uses the phone, then jumps on the computer for a quick minute or two and then leaves. About a week ago, my fellow site coordinator started working with her directly, something i would have probably overlooked. She started helping her with what she had been doing, which was apply for jobs. As a result of the right circumstances, coincidence, fate, or whatever you want to attribute to it, the client ended up getting a job two days after Christa, my fellow summer director, started working with her. Now, while Christa is good at filling out job applications, and she did help, in no means is the client's success DIRECTLY related to her help. Regardless, this was a huge deal. We had a client or two already obtain jobs before, but for some reason, either because of the client's immediate uplifted spirits or something else, this particular job was a great sign of encouragement. I wish I could say that her life has ever been changed and the world is a better as a result. This just isn't the case, though. It ended up that although she was promised 36 hours a week, the employer hired at least 20 other employees and thereby limiting the client's hours to a 6-16 hours a week. Which, is by all means, a step in the right direction, but no where near sufficiency. If it isn't clear, I had a tough time dealing with that...not because I have a huge personal investment, but because I could feel the disappointment when the client returned the next week to continue to look for jobs.
I believe that this has helped me to process through some of the more difficult thoughts pertaining to my work and involvement...(and i thought i would share some thoughts.) I began to ponder about the lasting effect that I was having with helping people with various services. I first thought of it as if I could help them get back on track, it would ultimately change the course of their lives and bring some restitution to their lives. That I would be making some significant impact. While I still believe that I am having an impact and helping clients who don't know how to do certain things, i am pondering my lasting impact. For example, what happens if I help a client get a job, but a month down the road, they end up getting fired or quit because they are unhappy, or whatever happens. It was at this moment of processing these difficult ideas that it hit me...! It was something that I had heard before and already known, but became even more true to me... I came to REALLY understand that it is so easy to see the financial or physical difficulty of the poor, the homeless with them either struggling to find a place to stay or something to eat or what ever it is. It is easy to understand that, or at least try to. But there is so much more than that. I was completely losing sight of the social aspect of poverty or homelessness or even unemployment. Christa and I were even talking about this with our boss, Jon and not delving too deep, but nonetheless wrestling with this issue. Christa brought up an interesting thought. It was a Psychology experiment in which they tested rats with two different groups. To both groups they would administer pain to the rats, but one group of rats had a way out. They did this several times, one group with a way out and the other without. Then, they changed the set up altogether. They gave all the rats a way out of the pain, similar to the other group. The results were quite clear... The ones who did not originally have a way out of the pain, did not use the way out in the second round of tests and simply endured the pain. WOW! In case I am too wordy and a little confusing, I will connect the dots... I wonder how difficult it is for individuals or groups of people who are faced with poverty or homelessness for sometime without any hope of a sufficient life to come to grasp that there is a way to stand up and fight for what should be everyone's right. This means that what I am doing, or what I hope to do, is not just help clients get jobs or find housing or schooling, or whatnot, but help change the social mindset and structure telling them that there is no way out.
I also had one more thought today as I was sitting in the New Haven Green (which is conveniently located 1/2 block away from my office - it makes for a nice place to eat lunch). The New Haven Green is quite the place. It is nothing special or different from any other green in a city in that it is a few blocks of green grass, trees, park benches, and a place for summer concerts or gathers, etc. I am not too familiar with other cities, but the New Haven Green is particularly beautiful. It is co-located with Yale which has several ancient architecturally designed buildings all around it. This combined with the green trees and fresh air makes for a splendid place to relax and even eat lunch. At the same time, it also happens to be the place where a lot of people who are homeless either sleep or hang out. Everyone should know that it is common poor or homeless people to be ignored. In fact, in my office, there is a board for poetry and art which clients can contribute to. It is really quite inspiring. There are several poems that talk about the perspective of a homeless person and how everyone ignores you. I think it is clear that the homeless today are typically ignored or forgotten for one of many misperceptions. It seems clear to me that society pushes them to the fringes (in most cases, not all). What I find interesting is that it is here, out of all the places in the city, that the lives of the different socio-economic classes cross paths. Perhaps, it is ironic that business men and women come out of their comfortable jobs to enjoy the beautiful scenery just feet away from a homeless person sleeping under a tree. Or perhaps, it could be argued that God's beauty, in nature, permeates and breaks the social and class boundaries no matter how much distance or maybe that is too much of a stretch to say that it is a sign of God's presence in nature in that he brings everyone of different statuses. Either way, I find it absolutely intriguing that both worlds come together in what may seem to be the least likely of places...and hope that you might be able to ponder or contribute to my thoughts.
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2 comments:
Hi Corey. Thanks for this post. I always enjoy reading about what you are doing and your perspectives and insights. You inspire me and cause me to stop and ponder.
Having volunteered in the Life Enrichment Center at Degage for about 4 months now, I can relate to the feeling of getting to know some of the clients pretty well ... and having that sometimes be encouraging and other times challenging and puzzling. Almost everyone seems to enjoy the opportunity to stop and talk while I check to see if they have mail. It is heartbreaking when the mail that some receive is a pile of medical bills that they tell me there is no way they can ever pay. On the other hand, it is a day-brightener to be able to give someone a much-needed check, a bridge card they’ve been waiting for or a personal letter that someone sent them. It is sad to hear some of the stories that people share and a blessing to celebrate when someone gets a place of their own, finds a job or bubbles over as they talk about God's faithfulness.
A couple of women have talked to me about how they prostitute themselves to have a roof over their head at night. This was a sad and puzzling revelation to me as I know that Degage offers a women's drop in center where women can stay at night. I talked with someone on staff about this recently. She said prostitution is a difficult problem. Degage offers an alternative but many women for whatever reason ... easy money, feeling as though they don't deserve any better, etc. have a hard time leaving that way of life. Somewhat like the psychology study of rats that you referred to. Even though there is a way out they choose to stay where they are. Another challenging and puzzling issue under the umbrella of social poverty.
At Degage, the staff and volunteers pray together before opening the doors to serve asking the Lord to be with each person who will walk through the doors and that we may do our best to meet their needs and be a reflection of God’s love.
The needs are great and resources are limited but God is at work. I see Him at work in you and in Jess cultivating beautiful, caring and compassionate hearts. I see Him at work in those we have the privilege to serve and serve with … and in my own heart as He continues to reveal the needs of those around us and inspires us to be his hands and his feet in loving and caring for others. The needs are great and it can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task. As much as we’d like to, we can’t solve the problems of the world, but we can make a difference … one person and one interaction at a time. God is simply asking us to partner with Him.
In thinking about the New Haven green, it is ironic in a way that people from every class are drawn there. However, while it is unfortunate that some are overlooked or "invisible" to others, God IS there and the beauty of His creation is a great place for all to come together.
I will look forward to your next update. Until then … Grace and Peace. ~Mrs. H
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 15:13
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