"I want to stay because people here care about me" muttered Laura (not her real name) as she sat sobbing on the bench in the lobby. My co-worker, Joel, and I attempted to ease the pain of the reality that she would not be able to stay at our shelter any longer, due to various medical issues that we were unable to accommodate - not the least of which was her passing out mid-sentence and nearly falling to the floor on a number of occasions. This may sound strange that someone in this state would "want" to stay at an emergency homeless shelter, but it is not an uncommon desire among many of the guests that utilize The Mustard Seed's services.
My name is Jordan, and I work frontline at The Mustard Seed Shelter in Calgary. For someone like Laura, an elderly individual who had been on the streets for a number of years, slipping through the cracks, and being cycled through the system, living off of a very small monthly cheque from the government and picking bottles for a living, it is very easy to feel alone. Couple this with her mild personality and small figure and it made her somewhat forgettable. With her failing body, being on over two dozen prescription medications, and her deteriorating mental health in a battle to overcome severe depression, her situation was very bleak. And as I sat there and witnessed the anguish in her face, while trying to fight my own tears of sorrow, I had once again been reminded of the humanity and unsurpassable worth of the person sitting in front of me. This lady was not a statistic, or a number, or my "work", she was, is, a real person, who has real pain, just like me.
I no longer appreciate the term "homeless people/person", when you use the word homeless as a title to describe someone, you are attaching a very painful and traumatic experience to their identity, creating a cultural divide of "us and them". The reality is that these are valuable, legitimate members of society who are experiencing homelessness. Yes, many of them have made decisions that have born negative consequences and may very well have put them in the place they are in, but to strip someone of value and worth because of their social standing, or even because of the wrong decisions they have made, is a travesty, and it is often only a reflection of how insignificant we ourselves feel. So I have decided because of Laura and others like her, I will know longer work to serve the 'homeless' but rather, I will serve real people who do not have a home. Semantics? Maybe. But also something to think about.
Jordan T. Swaim
Overnight Support Worker
Thank you Jordan, for your care and compassion.... It inspires me, I hope it does many others..... thank you for being there.
ReplyDeleteHaving worked front line also many years back, it is very evident even if most people are not willing to admit this that anyone can slip out of the system. Society has a tendency to pressure you daily on if you will stay in the system, and as struggle to locate work this pressure become more and more evident. You can't ever let anyone know your struggling, or they will not consider you as a candidate. Why? People I worked with long ago would be people I would hire in a heartbeat, they have one quality that society seems to lack. Realism. No hiding around the clothing, the education, the policies, they are real about life. So I encourage anyone working on support of MS or out there in life wanting to make a difference. To embrace being real.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post Jordan, I appreciate the need to clarify how we talk about the people we serve, it may be semantics, but I think it's still important.
ReplyDeletePaula (Mustard Seed Edmonton)
It doesn't matter about semantrics. No difference between people without homes and homeless people. Silly actually. The most important thing about those who suffer through homelessness is witnessing to them about Jesus Christ, and giving them the words that Christ gave us. This is the most important thing. Not what words we use, how many meals that is provided for them, or the clothes that get donated to them, nor all the work training, or educational courses. What they need is real people who dispite what restrciction the government makes on places like the Mustard Seed when it comes to talking about Jesus to talk about Jesus. Government regulations should not stop workers from spreading the message of Christ to all those who enter. It's not our food that will save them, not the uncomfortable mat they sleep on, nor the nice clothes donated to them. The word of God alone is sufficient, and we are His hands and feet. If we are doing all these things for the homeless, and not teaching them about Jesus Christ, then we are keeping them alive so they can die in their sins.
ReplyDeleteWitnessing for Christ is something not usually seen anymore around the Mustard Seed. I have yet to hear one story of someone bringing the message of Christ. I hear about the programs and every other thing, but what is the Mustard Seed doing about reaching these people with the message of the Gospel? I've been to the Mustard Seed website and it's discouraging to see how little God is mentioned on it. It's time to start being real and not so caught up in playing with words. I didn't hear one word in all that blog that gave God any credit. Shame.
ReplyDeleteI work with Jordan every night and where as this blog might not say anything about God, his actions preach the gospel through the way he works and through the way he thinks and in fact the words he speaks!
ReplyDeleteI think dignifiying people through what you call them is loving which is what God calls us to do. This blog post talks about a subtle change of perspective and its pretty great.
Thanks Jordan for sharing, its a blessing to work with you!
*subtle yet important and powerful
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post Jordan- thank you for sharing. I know that some may think of it as semantics but I believe it's a mindset. Do we see those living in poverty or who are homeless as being valuable or having something to offer? Or do we see them as being a nuance?
ReplyDeleteHow does one's action actually preach the Gospel? Sorry, but that's not good enough for God, and the Bible tells us so. Please think about that one for a minute. We are not called to act like Christians so others will come to Christ. God calls us to spread the Gospel message using words. But unless our actions reflect our words, our words are empty. Action without words is empty actions. Anyone can be a nice person. I'm not picking on Jordan because I realize how government funding has restricted staff at the seed from preaching the Gospel message. I know first hand, I used to work there. I think the Seed needs to come clean with the types of restrictions placed on them because they have requested and receive government funding. I like what the Seed is doing to help the homeless, but since everyone is being real, I thing the Seed needs to be real, and come clean about how they cannot preach the message of Christ to it's clients. Unless a client comes up to them and starts talking about God. I don't mean to burst the bubble, but things are changing at the seed, and it's moving further away from it's original mission. More talks about what staff are doing in the homeless lives, and less about what is God doing. Again, you concern yourself with the use of words. Do you think semantics will save the soul of a lost one?Do you think your kindness and generousity will save their souls. If actions were sufficient to preach Christ, it would of said so in the Bible. In fact, it says the opposite. Please tell us why staff can't preach the Gospel of Christ to it's clients at the Mustard Seed.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Lacey. The Bible refers to homeless people as homeless people. Changing a word doesn't prove anything, other than the person who is doing it is way off target and missing the point of preaching God's word. You love the clients enough to change the word homeless to people without homes, but where is the love for their very soul? Do you think your actions will save them? Only the convicting word of God saves people. You say you love these people? This is where action comes into play. Showing that love by wanting to see them repent before God of their sins and except Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Everything else is just fluffy cotton candy.It seems those who were inspired to write the Gospels were not concerend about semantics. I bet they were more concerned about preaching the message of Christ and giving God the glory. I don't know Jordan, but me being a former employee of the Seed, I do know that staff are not permitted to gom up to the clients and preach Word of God. I also know that not all staff are professed Christians. Since the title was called "Real People" I thought I would be real and point these things out.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate all the input this blog has been receiving. I would like to clarify that I do not feel any pressure from this organization to not share my faith, as I am very open about my faith with guests here and I make it a point to pray with many of them on a regular basis, not once have my supervisors or managers discouraged me from this. I am sorry "annonymous" if this was your experience while you were here.
ReplyDeleteIf a guest does not want to hear me talk about Jesus with them I will respect his/her wishes in that regard. Also I do not feel it is my job to be anyones saviour, that is Jesus' job, nor do I feel like I need to convict people, that is the Holy Spirit's job, and I do not make a very good Holy Spirit or Jesus. It is simply my job to plant seeds and trust that God is working in that individuals life, 1 Corinthians 3:7 says "It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow"(NLT). I hope this puts where I am comming from in to perspective a little bit.
I would love to say some things around the topic of evangelizm but to avoid debate over the internet i will refrain and just point out that I was there and the gospel was preached. We told Laura that she was a chaild of God and she was loved and she said that she knew that but its hard to accept considering her health and circumstances. "anonymous" i dont know you for you are anonymous but i think that making these comments about staff that you do not know or situations you do not know can be hurtufl and dangerous. As the church we should be united serving as the holy spirit guides us. John 17: 21 I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear your responses. This is what brings joy to my heart, and the reason why I try to help support the Mustard Seed. I do become a bit concerned when the majority of what I read is not recognizing God. You are right, I do not know what goes on their anymore. All I have is what is being posted on FB,the newsletter, and the website. I am also not questioning anyone's belief, I am merely pointing out that not all staff are Christians, though they are required to follow the mission of the Seed. I am sorry for stating my opinion, but I'm glad to see that I sparked a flame at least. I want to hear more about what God is doing down at the Seed, and how God is changing lives. Are you seeing my point. I think it's getting lost in "look at what the seed is doing" or, "look at what the staff at the seed are doing", what the programs are doing, etc. As a fellow Christian and supporter of the Seed I also want to know what the Seed is doing that is different than the Calgary Drop-In Center, or the Salvation Army, or anyone of the others, but most of all, I want to know how God is changing lives. Thanks
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