Last December, Journey to Justice (J2J) hosted a wonderful conversation about the book Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder. Rough Sleepers is about Boston’s unhoused community and about Dr. Jim O’Connell, who helped start Boston Health Care for the Homeless. We welcomed our very own parishioner, Dr. Ginger Barrow, as well as one of her colleagues, who both spent many years working for Boston Health Care for the Homeless. It was a lovely conversation, and one of the key takeaways for me was that, when we were talking about people who are unhoused, the energy in the room started to feel overwhelming and sad. And then Ginger reminded us that though we can’t solve homelessness, we can participate in acts that dignify people all the time. She said that even though there were plenty of sad moments in her work, it was also amazing to be present with someone in the moment, look them in the eyes, and care for them. We had two people who spent a considerable amount of time caring for people who are unhoused that reminded us not to despair, but to focus on the things we can do. And one of those things was buying $5 Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards to hand out so that people could get a nice warm meal and have access to a bathroom. Quiet acts of care that can be so dignifying to another’s humanity and personhood.
When we are inundated with distressing, sad, or overwhelming news, the natural response can be to shut down and feel powerless. As Ginger reminded us on that Sunday afternoon, there are always things that we can do. And I believe that is the mark of our Christian faith. Perhaps we cannot solve all the big things, but we can dignify the person right in front of us. (Which sometimes also leads us to work on the big things too.) We can work to build the things that matter like community and respect and love. And there are opportunities every single day to do that.
Will we figure out how to solve all of the complexities and anxieties around immigration? Perhaps not, but we can attend the J2J forum this coming Sunday and hear from a panel of people who are working to dignify the people around them and create systems that bring freedom. Can we completely change our school systems so that our neurodivergent kids can have places where they can flourish? I would love that, but for now, we can gather together as community with our Lighthouse Ministry and work on the skills for resilience and love and care to make Epiphany a place where all our kids can flourish. Can we solve our epidemic of loneliness? For those who feel lonely, that means having the courage to keep showing up until a place feels like home, and that also means that we are to keep welcoming and paying attention to others. Can there be a world where no one is hungry? I would love that. But for now we keep feeding at St. Luke’s, The Dwelling Place, The Malden Warming Center, and handing out our Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards. Do not stop advocating for a better world, but do not let the complexities of our world stop you from loving the human beings around you and remembering the things we can do.
With gratitude,
Rev. Janelle
