Further Reflections on Social Justice (Winter 07)

[a few weeks back at Impact]

“What is justice?”

We were all a bit taken-aback by the question. After some small-group discussion, bringing up aspects of law and consequences and eye-for-eye/tooth-for-tooth biblical and ancient laws, we formulated and presented a diplomatic and broad definition: “making things fair between parties, based on a system of moral law.” Other groups gave their equally valid definitions of the word.

“I’d encourage you to think about its Hebrew root,” he replied. “Justice was first associated with the person–as in someone who listened and who was prepared to decide and act based on what he had heard.” It involved a relationship–of hearing both sides, of righteously deciding consequences and acting on behalf of those who were sometimes unheard.

Who are the unheard in our world? He mentioned the homeless, poor, handicapped, mentally-challenged, lonely, invalids, elderly, those in orphanages, prisons, hospitals, those in the midst of genocide or war or whose bodies are being ravaged by AIDS.

It’s so overwhelming to think about these people, their problems that are infinitely larger than my own, to think about where to begin to help.

So he suggested listening. He suggested starting small. He suggested using creativity. Like a group in Modesto, California, who used to go to parks in the motel district where lots of homeless people were, hang out for a while, allow the homeless people to use their cell phones to make important calls. Eventually it led to a sense of understanding between the homeless and the cell-phone owners, and those people took the information they gained and lobbied at City Hall.

Or there’s the group who started organizing social events for the homeless in their community–like a potluck (in which everyone who came was required to bring something–and everyone who attended had to eat what was brought–sometimes it was scary stuff dug up from dumpsters)–or a series of dance-lessons for people with mental disabilities–in which people gained a sense of dignity again, they were able to feel more human, and they also established relationships with people who could speak on their behalf.

These are just a couple of examples. They take a lot of time. They take a different approach–was there giving involved? No, not financially. Was there help provided? Yes. Were unheard people gaining a voice? Perhaps. And it was based on relationship.

[This was written in response to blog responsibly, and basically because all this stuff has been steeping in my brain for a while--the talk from a few weeks ago was so awesome and thought-provoking. I'd love to hear any thoughts or reflections].

Agents of Social Justice (Winter 07)

(By re-posting this, I am condemning myself and my lack of action.   My next post will do the same. Social Justice is still on my heart, but I really need to do something about it.)

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Meet the Mansvelds. He’s a tall, edgy looking guy who seems a bit indie-rock with a twist of grunge. She is also tall, but graceful–with a French sort of bone structure to her face and a very modern haircut. They have an adorable 16-month old boy who was the center of our attention as he toddled around exploring things and talking. We were welcomed into their funky, vintage-furniture-decorated home with tea and cookies, and watched a video (made for church-viewing when they go to raise support) about what they do. For more than 17 years each, they’ve been working with the poor and marginalized both here and in other parts of Canada. Their approach is to go, establish relationships with people on the streets, and hang out with them. Sometimes it involves helping the people with their physical needs, sometimes it just means listening, sometimes it means giving the reason for the hope that they have. The streets are in constant flux–people they’ve come to have rapports with will disappear for no good reason, so that’s a challenge. The training, discernment, awareness and compassion of the Mansvelds was so inspirational. It was awesome because they were able to give great accounts of the people they’d encountered–the real needs that they saw (not food, not money, not clothes–but compassion, social networks, recognition as being human beings), and were able to suggest so many different ways in which we as students could get involved. I was shocked to hear about the tickets that the Montreal homeless receive (mostly on the police officer’s discretion–like for dropping a cigarette butt on the street, or for leaning against a tree for too long); their debts totalling anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $30,000. So there’s political lobbying for the plight of the homeless, there’s legal counsel that can be given, there’s opportunities to yes, serve food, or to teach workshops in various trades or to play games and talk with people. Their go-to-where-the-poor-are mentality (in establishing relationships, they have to be consistent and earn the trust of their new friends) is a lot more of a challenge, and is more of a lifestyle than just a mission of sorts. Even though their outreach is much more radical, it’s amazing to have allies in this… they want us to contact them and ask questions, they want us to keep them posted. They want us-in the warmer months–to take a “compassion walk” together around Montreal to become aware of the street culture.

Only really recently have I started to have a heart for the poor. My mom and I used to sort clothes for a rescue mission in Arizona, and while that was good (I remember being challenged to do it–not wanting to be around the smelly clothes, yet Mom gently pushed me), I can’t say that I really put a lot of thought into it. Thanks to my pastor in Colorado who highlighted God’s heart for the poor and marginalized in the Old and New Testaments, and feeling like I couldn’t ignore it anymore, I started to want to DO something.

And now it seems, thanks to such insights and allies, I just might be able to.