Observation #2

There is a network of people who are in the trenches in our community who appear to be consistently, persistently, and unselfishly compassionate - and it is not who you would expect.

They are not wealthy, but they give generously. They are in many ways weak (old, overweight, smokers, socially unimportant, politically unconnected), but they work tirelessly. They are self-starters; that is, they saw a need and did something about it. They didn't wait for somebody to organize and make things convenient for them. They seem to do what they do out of some inner conviction.

I think about Elizabeth who, when I met her under the bridge four years ago, was trying to rebuild her life after a divorce. She works at a local school as a secretary, I am sure, making very little money. I don't know if she attends church regularly. She saw that the chronically homeless living on the streets had some nights where food was not as available. With what little money she had, she started feeding them by making peanut butter and honey sandwiches along with some fruit. She has continued to serve meals each week - hot or cold, rain or shine - going on 4 years now. She didn't sign-up on some recruiting drive for a six-month committment. She will continue indefinitely.

I think about Keith, a non-church-going Catholic, ex-con, smoker, formerly homeless drug addict on disability who is daily on the streets outreaching to the homeless, helping them in whatever way he can - giving them a bus token; driving them to a health clinic; helping them get identification cards; filling their prescriptions - all with his own money. His mission is to give the hopeless a second chance. He conceived of doing this while sitting in prison, thinking about how he was given a second chance. I have known him for the past 4 years. He was at this long before I met him.

I think about Sherm, who is spending his retirement building beds for the needy. Unarticulate, looking like an old hippie, when asked why he does what he does, he says "because I can't not do it." He has been building beds for years. Although he gets some intermittant help when a group comes in, he mostly labors silently and unrecognized.

I think of the "Hot Dog Lady" (Patti), an anxious smoker, who for the past 9 years has spent $500 per month out of her own pocket to buy hot dogs to provide meals to about 150 homeless every single saturday.

I think of J. who lives in the south part of town. She grew up in poverty in a broken, traumatic home environment. She works during the day and in her spare time runs Angels of Mercy. This group outreaches to unreachable, throw-away teens, providing mentoring or a place to stay (in her own home). Angel of Mercy has no outside financial support, though they need it. It doesn't stop them.

There are more on my list. Their tenacity has convicted me to my core.

Unlikely individuals who are part of a network of goodness. Any church connection is not apparent. The most striking and curious thing about this list of people practicing compassion is who is not on the list.