December 7, 2006

Frankie

Running late for a lunch meeting, I scan the porches as I rush out the door. I see a crowd on a porch but I don't see him in the crowd. It's like playing "Where's Waldo”, scanning, seeking, looking at each face. Finally I spy his face in the midst of a bunch of others. He is sitting on the bottom step. One more step up and he would be on the six-by- four foot square porch, a very large porch, for those in the neighborhood. His face is worn, his hair is graying, and he looks somewhat confused. I know that this fiftysomething African-American man has lived a rough life; he looks much older. I don't know his story. You can see it in his eyes. He spends a good part of his time repairing bikes, tuning mowers, and drinking. He knows he drinks too much but it has dogged him all his life. He can't shake it. However, it doesn't stop him from sharing what he has with so many people.

Need a meal go to Frankie’s? Evicted? Stay with Frankie. Need a place to hang out? Sit on Frankie's porch. Sometimes there are five, six, eight or more people on the porch with music blaring, yet Frankie welcomes everyone as a friend. It is not unusual to see Frankie sweeping out his 350-square-foot apartment once everyone leaves in a day or two. Sometimes when I see all the people sleeping in Frankie's house, I wonder why I as a Christian would be uneasy letting those in need stay in my house, especially the kind of people Frankie lets stay with him: the homeless, the hungry, addicted, left out, lonely, the evicted, the depressed, and the drunk. He doesn't judge; he just practices hospitality. I don't know what Frankie's faith background is or even if he is a Christian.

I know he doesn't go to church because I see him most Sunday mornings sitting on the porch drinking from a bottle covered with a paper sack as I walk over to the church. We can judge Frankie, but when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Matthew 25:31-46)

December 6, 2006

*Signs

I was driving through a nearby town on the way to a meeting, had some time to spare and stopped at an old downtown, run down, thrift store. It almost looked closed as it was dark inside. I guess they were trying to save electricity. I enjoy going to old downtown stores to view turn-of-the-century architectural elements. I love it when the wooden floors creak under my feet, and I can gaze at the high tin ceilings. From the outside it looked like I hit pay dirt. As I approached the door the first thing I saw was a sign. We've all seen signs in stores and in churches; usually they have kind of adouble meaning. The sign on the door said, “Cash Only" (which really means too many bad checks and you can't get credit). "OK, fine", I think "I've got a five". The next sign I encounteredsaid, "Children must be controlled by parents" (that really means you're a bad parent and your children are brats). "MMMMMM" As I turned around I saw another one, "You break it you buy it (don't touch our stuff; it was donated to us and is very, very valuable)." The signs got stronger the farther I moved into the store, "DON'T ASK US TO MARK ANYTHING DOWN!!!!! (we can't help it if you don't have the money)”. Soon it seemed like all I saw were signs, “No public restrooms" (we have restrooms but not for you, you might get them dirty or something). "All shirts $2.00 except on this rack, priced as marked (we save the nicer stuff for those who really don't have to shop here). As I left, there was a sign at the cash register that said, "No refunds!!!!!" and right below it said, "Jesus loves you and so do we" (sure you do).

One of the challenges of working with the under-resourced is to care and help without it becoming a degrading experience for both of us. When we give to those who do not have, we can give in a way that sends a message, "this is for you but you have nothing of value to offer to me". The givers often feels like they are intruding into the private lives of those who have trouble caring for themselves, and it is uncomfortable. The receiver is exposed and vulnerable. Of course we can't stop giving, helping, and showing compassion. Perhaps the whole system needs to be rethought. What would happen if the large number of retired baby boomers who have business sense were to help folks start small businesses? What would happen if church benevolence funds were given to fund the endeavor? Perhaps experienced folks could share their expertise with those who would like to move from life "sustaining" jobs to life "giving" jobs.
Could communities be transformed by providing day-care centers, janitorial help, window
washing, roofing, yard care, small grocery stores, or even thrift shops that would
be owned or at least managed by and employ folks who need jobs that will give some
self esteem?

Maybe the sign we as Christians put up says, "We care for you". Do we care for you (meet your needs) or care for you (love enough to become involved in a life working side by side to improve a family's lot)? Maybe we do both, meet needs while enabling those in poverty to fulfill their calling. Jesus' sign says, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly". (John 10:10) Maybe that is our calling - - - to help people not just survive life but to have it more abundantly.

*Recently, I read a book called, Theirs is the Kingdom by Robert Lupton, (San Francisco: Harper Publishing, 1989) in it is a chapter about church signs (pp 48-50), it reminded me of my experience in a Thrift shop that I visited while traveling some years ago.