There But for the Grace of God…

Driving along any street or highway, it so easy to go from point A to point B and be oblivious to your soundings. Knowing that to your left is a Staples or a Mickey D’s, to your right is a Methodist church or a physician’s complex, is so “every day.” We ignore what we pass, and few of us even give the slightest thought that people – men, women and children – are often living behind the buildings or in the unmowed weeds in the adjacent property. I know I don’t.

How many of us, upon arriving at the Publix, have three doors to select from. The closer we get to our door of choice, what appears to be a homeless man maneuvers between us and that door – and so, another door becomes our choice? I know I’ve done this.

This raises a question. Is that what Jesus would have done? A wiser person than me suggested that I consider what Luke had to say on the subject. It’s obvious, even to someone with a casual relationship with the Bible, that Jesus had a special sense of mission to the poor. Some suggest that he announced his “mission statement” in the synagogue in Nazareth, when he read from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

Well, due to some prompting by members of our church community (Diane Bechtold and Cyd Law), I agreed to participate in the recent iDignity event at the Missionary Baptist Church in Sanford. The not-for-profit group, iDignity, is dedicated to assisting homeless people and others at risk in obtaining important documents (such as Social Security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, and other forms of ID). These documents are sought for a variety of reasons that include: seeking a job, getting a cheap room for a night or two, proving state of birth and age, seeking to dissolve a marriage, obtaining healthcare for themselves and children.

Roughly 50 volunteers from various Christian church groups joined together on September 22 to serve those who showed up at the church. I felt that it was “serving” and it gave me a good feeling to believe one small thing could help another person feel better about themselves. As the day ended for me, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I felt better about myself.

The people I met that day were such a variety of ages, personalities, needs, frustrations, complexities, educational backgrounds, and medical condition. My assignment was to sit and meet individuals as they entered the building and complete an “intake” form that contained lots of personal questions – ones needed in order to locate the ID materials. For me, this was quite an education.

To illustrate what these people live with, the following were things that were shared with me:
• A man in his early 50’s was seeking a birth certificate, simply so he “might” find out what his fathers’ name was. He has never known, and before she died, his mother never told him. When I asked one of the mandatory questions, “Where did you spend last night?” I was told, “Where I’ve spent every night for the past 27 years.” Since that was a surprise answer, I asked for further explanation, and he told me that he lived in a mental facility.
• One woman in her 60’s was seeking a Social Security card, so she might find getting a job easier. In addition, she wanted a birth certificate and a copy of her marriage license from Pennsylvania. Her hope is to get a job, save some money, and “escape” (as she put it) back to Philadelphia (where she had left two children). The reason given for being homeless: no job and abuse at the hand of the man she had left Philly to move to Florida. He, by the way, was in the Seminole County jail for beating her.
• One guy told me that he was homeless primarily because, as he put it, “I don’t get along with people.” When I pointed out that the two of us seemed to be getting along pretty well, he told me, “This is rare.” He was well educated (attempted college in his 20’s), but suffers from mental health issues, and mistrusts everyone. (He wanted to show me that he takes legitimate medication, and pulled a bottle out of his pocket.
• And then there was a woman (in her 40’s), who was there with her fiancée and two children (both over the age of 18). They had come to Orlando about 4 months ago, from Flint, Michigan, to “find work.” There has been no work for any of them. On June 29, they were living in Kissimmee, at the Vacation Lodge motel, when it caught fire and burned to the ground. They lost everything, including all forms of ID. When I met them, they had found a way to come all the way to Sanford in an attempt to get assistance.

The line that wound outside the church and down the street seemed very long, when I first arrived. The stories the people told were endless. The needs were unique and extensive. The people were ALL courteous and appreciative. When I shook hands with each person, as they approached the table, they all seemed surprised. But, when they left the table, most of them reached out “first” to shake hands. It was good for both of us.

Few walked out with all of the paperwork or ID’s they sought that day. Many will have to wait for things to arrive (at a safe location, if there are mail concerns). But, for a few minutes, they weren’t anonymous. They had faces and names, and they were aware that others cared about them.

When one guy in his 50’s told me that he had spent the night with a friend, he smiled as he mentioned it. When I asked where had been prior to his friends’ place, he said, “You know that Walmart (and he pointed in some direction)? There’s a spot that doesn’t get too wet, when it rains. That’s my place most nights.” Well, I saw that Walmart, as I drove back home – and I doubt that I’ll ever ignore that place or look at it in the same way in the future. Someone I “know” lives there. There but for the grace of God….

Jesus commanded us, “Love your neighbor.” My neighbors live in pretty nice homes with property, their kids attend pretty nice schools (some private), they eat. But that’s a limited definition. Jesus defined “neighbor,” as anyone who is need, including social outcasts. He instructed us, “…when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” IDignity’s event wasn’t a “banquet,” but it was warm and welcoming and fulfilling. For those of us who participated, we were blessed.

“I have compassion on these people,” Jesus said, speaking of the poor. The question can be asked: Is anyone listening? From the way the Christian strangers, who gathered at the iDignity event, worked together and reached out with joyous hands to those who came seeking help, I’d say “YES.” These people were (and are) listening.

Jesus told the disciples, "Ye have the poor with you always." He understood that the poor in society were (and are) a fact of life. And he challenged others (us) to provide for them. One way we can provide, is to extend a hand to those seeking identity and self-respect. So, when the next iDignity event occurs (which will be in January), I really hope that one of you reading this will give us a call and tell us that you are onboard.

Dennis McClellan