Being fed in Los Angeles
There are many cities in the United as well as in other countries where one is forced to face the enormous disparity between those who live in homes with many empty bedrooms and those who are homeless. In between, of course, are those who are living in a structure which may or may not have adequate heat and air conditioning and those who are living in an adequate space but which cost at least half of one’s income. There are also those who are fortunate to get some help with rent in subsidized housing which may or may not be decently maintained. Then there are those who are, for whatever reason, are holding landlords/landladies and possibly friends and family member’s hostage. These may be the addicted and those who meet the criteria for an official mental illness diagnoses as well as those who minds are not able to consider the needs or even the safety of others, but who do not meet the official criteria for an mental illness diagnosis diagnosis. Many of these may not be officially considered an immediate danger to themselves or others, but who, none the less, leave all they encounter terrified and exhausted.
No societies have found a way to address the various needs of this widely diverse group of people. Historically we move between treating those who do not fit nicely into the various cultural settings we have created as the invisible, as those who we lock up out of sight and those we can label as criminal and treat less well in prisons than many of us treat our pets. In fact, I know many pets who live a very luxurious live. (I am not begrudging the loving care many pet owners give their pets or neglecting to recognize the important mental health role of many pets.)
There are those “charitable organizations such as Homeboy and Homegirl Industries in Los Angeles which daily prove that there is no one beyond redemption. It occurs to me as I type that the very concept of redemption implies that people were once pure/whole/able to embrace their sacredness, lost that ability and then were able to reclaim it
There are many such charitable organizations just as there are many individuals and families who generously and without any ulterior motive embrace “the least of these our brethren” who are a part of our “US” I am currently thinking of one such person who lives in a small town and cares for an alcoholic who does work but who is unable to be on his own. At the same time, he helps another person who is also challenged in terms of taking care of himself. This man does not have any ulterior motive other than recognizing that we need to be each other’s keepers.
During my recent visit to Los Angeles I was forced to confront the reality of someone having to deal with a roommate whose rational mind was not available resulting in a way of thinking and behaving which was not safe for those around them and which, at the same time, did not fit the legal criteria for involuntary commitment.
Every time I went out in my son’s very respectable neighborhood I was confronted with those sleeping in mini parks, on sidewalk benches and anyplace which allowed someone to lay their head and park their bags of belongings. I was also confronted with mounds of trash on sidewalks, among the flowering plants and in the streets. Some of these individuals, when awake would respond to my good morning, some continued to sleep and some turned away or just ignored me. I would eventually arrive at the LA Fitness Center where I am other privileged individuals would enjoy a workout on machines since obviously we did not get the daily workout of homeless persons or of those performing jobs requiring physical labor. During my walk to and from the gym I would also encounter the men and women working on the city’s infrastructure, collecting garbage and doing all the tasks necessary to get business enterprises ready to open for the day. There were also the gas station owners and attendants, the convenient stores clerks and those providing service to us privileged and rarified individuals at such establishments as Starbucks.
Later in the day my son whom I was visiting in Los Angeles and I would walk to the subway station, wait for the train and ride the train to explore a museum and or an ethic section of the city. Still later he, I and the woman he is dating would join other privileged individuals at a pleasant restaurant where we would enjoy an interesting and nutritious meal. In each situation we encountered members of “US”.
I like walking and riding the subway in Los Angeles and other cities. I also like walking and riding my bicycle in the city where I currently live although even on the bicycle I do not encounter or meet the number and diversity of people I do walking and riding the subway in cities such as Los Angeles.
Of course, I know that many in Los Angeles do not often walk or ride the subway. Many are as isolated in their cars, homes and neighborhoods as are many in the small community of Wheeling, WV where I am now living or in Dunedin Florida where I recently lived for two years.
At Homegirl Restaurant which is a part of Homeboy/Homegirl Industries in Los Angeles I saw a shirt which said on the back something to the effect that “There is no us and them. There is only us.” It happens that this shirt was worn by someone working at the restaurant and who was probably a former gang member still sporting the tattoos identifying them as associated with a particular gang.
Now that I am back in Wheeling, WV, I am aware of how easy it will be to isolate and limit my connection with the various members of the US. Although diversity the Ohio Valey is not as evident as it is in Los Angeles and there are less of every subgroup there is still an “us” which includes the wealthy, the so-called middle class, the “working poor”, the homeless, the addicted, the mentally ill, people of color, various political groups, members of the LGBT community, and others. (I am very aware that one may be a member of more than one sub-group.)
The challenge for today is how we/I stay connected to the wider “US” without becoming homeless or intentionally mentally ill or addicted. The challenge is how to embrace the mentally ill, the addicted and the rest of the members of the community who form the “US” without getting so drained that I/we have nothing left to give and are too sick and fearful to receive. The challenge is to be present with love and a willingness to engage without being sucked into hopelessness or despair. The challenge is to acknowledge the privilege I enjoy, to use that privilege to work for a more inclusive “US” with humility and a sense of gratitude. The challenge is to accept those parts of myself which I find unattractive, frightening or even confusing in others. The challenge is to accept the offer to be fed by all those who comprise the “US” while feeding the “US”.
There is much spiritual food to be absorbed from the “US”. Writing down these rather random thoughts will help me stay open to this feast.
Written August 14, 2017
There are many cities in the United as well as in other countries where one is forced to face the enormous disparity between those who live in homes with many empty bedrooms and those who are homeless. In between, of course, are those who are living in a structure which may or may not have adequate heat and air conditioning and those who are living in an adequate space but which cost at least half of one’s income. There are also those who are fortunate to get some help with rent in subsidized housing which may or may not be decently maintained. Then there are those who are, for whatever reason, are holding landlords/landladies and possibly friends and family member’s hostage. These may be the addicted and those who meet the criteria for an official mental illness diagnoses as well as those who minds are not able to consider the needs or even the safety of others, but who do not meet the official criteria for an mental illness diagnosis diagnosis. Many of these may not be officially considered an immediate danger to themselves or others, but who, none the less, leave all they encounter terrified and exhausted.
No societies have found a way to address the various needs of this widely diverse group of people. Historically we move between treating those who do not fit nicely into the various cultural settings we have created as the invisible, as those who we lock up out of sight and those we can label as criminal and treat less well in prisons than many of us treat our pets. In fact, I know many pets who live a very luxurious live. (I am not begrudging the loving care many pet owners give their pets or neglecting to recognize the important mental health role of many pets.)
There are those “charitable organizations such as Homeboy and Homegirl Industries in Los Angeles which daily prove that there is no one beyond redemption. It occurs to me as I type that the very concept of redemption implies that people were once pure/whole/able to embrace their sacredness, lost that ability and then were able to reclaim it
There are many such charitable organizations just as there are many individuals and families who generously and without any ulterior motive embrace “the least of these our brethren” who are a part of our “US” I am currently thinking of one such person who lives in a small town and cares for an alcoholic who does work but who is unable to be on his own. At the same time, he helps another person who is also challenged in terms of taking care of himself. This man does not have any ulterior motive other than recognizing that we need to be each other’s keepers.
During my recent visit to Los Angeles I was forced to confront the reality of someone having to deal with a roommate whose rational mind was not available resulting in a way of thinking and behaving which was not safe for those around them and which, at the same time, did not fit the legal criteria for involuntary commitment.
Every time I went out in my son’s very respectable neighborhood I was confronted with those sleeping in mini parks, on sidewalk benches and anyplace which allowed someone to lay their head and park their bags of belongings. I was also confronted with mounds of trash on sidewalks, among the flowering plants and in the streets. Some of these individuals, when awake would respond to my good morning, some continued to sleep and some turned away or just ignored me. I would eventually arrive at the LA Fitness Center where I am other privileged individuals would enjoy a workout on machines since obviously we did not get the daily workout of homeless persons or of those performing jobs requiring physical labor. During my walk to and from the gym I would also encounter the men and women working on the city’s infrastructure, collecting garbage and doing all the tasks necessary to get business enterprises ready to open for the day. There were also the gas station owners and attendants, the convenient stores clerks and those providing service to us privileged and rarified individuals at such establishments as Starbucks.
Later in the day my son whom I was visiting in Los Angeles and I would walk to the subway station, wait for the train and ride the train to explore a museum and or an ethic section of the city. Still later he, I and the woman he is dating would join other privileged individuals at a pleasant restaurant where we would enjoy an interesting and nutritious meal. In each situation we encountered members of “US”.
I like walking and riding the subway in Los Angeles and other cities. I also like walking and riding my bicycle in the city where I currently live although even on the bicycle I do not encounter or meet the number and diversity of people I do walking and riding the subway in cities such as Los Angeles.
Of course, I know that many in Los Angeles do not often walk or ride the subway. Many are as isolated in their cars, homes and neighborhoods as are many in the small community of Wheeling, WV where I am now living or in Dunedin Florida where I recently lived for two years.
At Homegirl Restaurant which is a part of Homeboy/Homegirl Industries in Los Angeles I saw a shirt which said on the back something to the effect that “There is no us and them. There is only us.” It happens that this shirt was worn by someone working at the restaurant and who was probably a former gang member still sporting the tattoos identifying them as associated with a particular gang.
Now that I am back in Wheeling, WV, I am aware of how easy it will be to isolate and limit my connection with the various members of the US. Although diversity the Ohio Valey is not as evident as it is in Los Angeles and there are less of every subgroup there is still an “us” which includes the wealthy, the so-called middle class, the “working poor”, the homeless, the addicted, the mentally ill, people of color, various political groups, members of the LGBT community, and others. (I am very aware that one may be a member of more than one sub-group.)
The challenge for today is how we/I stay connected to the wider “US” without becoming homeless or intentionally mentally ill or addicted. The challenge is how to embrace the mentally ill, the addicted and the rest of the members of the community who form the “US” without getting so drained that I/we have nothing left to give and are too sick and fearful to receive. The challenge is to be present with love and a willingness to engage without being sucked into hopelessness or despair. The challenge is to acknowledge the privilege I enjoy, to use that privilege to work for a more inclusive “US” with humility and a sense of gratitude. The challenge is to accept those parts of myself which I find unattractive, frightening or even confusing in others. The challenge is to accept the offer to be fed by all those who comprise the “US” while feeding the “US”.
There is much spiritual food to be absorbed from the “US”. Writing down these rather random thoughts will help me stay open to this feast.
Written August 14, 2017
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