Please enjoy the following blog by Elder Tim Hooey:
In
one ear is a voice. The voice is encouraging and prompts me to write. “You have
something to say, something people should hear. Yes, it could get messy, but
you need to share in order to build up the body.”
In
the other ear is a voice. The voice is compassionate and asks that I keep my
thoughts to myself. “Don’t you see, by writing about this you are only creating
more hierarchy, objectification and distinction. You are losing the trust you
have worked so hard to build.”
Mutuality
in mission and life is a messy endeavor.
I
have been a part of a group that, for the last year and a half, has attempted to
engage a marginalized community in Folsom. We have gone about this, not by
creating programs, but by seeking friendship.
Creating
programs for, or “serving”, the marginalized has a tendency to create space
between the one who has all of the answers and the one who needs direction.
Grant it, not all programs are bad. Many are useful and necessary. But when a
large group of middle to upper class folks enter a community of people with less
resources in order to “help” the result can be demoralizing and humiliating.
The effect on both the marginalized and those “serving” is subtly
thwarted.
Mutuality
in friendship requires humility, trust and an openness to learn from one
another. Entering more fully into God’s Kingdom and being complete in Christ
means learning from those we have a relationship with, and not in a backhanded
“Through this experience I have learned to appreciate all I have” sort of way.
Learning from each other means actually hearing what people have to say and
then hearing or seeing God through the person. The person whom God uses may be
a nine year old in need of a mentor, an illegal immigrant, or a single dad
struggling to take care of his kids.
A
friend of mine once attended a church that would sometimes gather to share a
meal together. Everyone would bring a dish to share with the group. They
referred to this tradition as a Pot Faith. I find this ridiculous and funny.
Once a month the group I am apart of from Oak Hills has a pot-luck (taboos and
all) at Theodore Judah Elementary School. We eat with families from the school
and neighborhood. Having a pot-luck is an intentional way of creating an
environment where everyone contributes and we are all on equal ground (my
strange green jell-o is no different than your strange green jell-o). For more
than a year we have shared a meal once a month with marginalized families.
There has been nothing magical about this time together. Much of the time it
is awkward. However, over time many relationships have been created and many of
those relationships are now friendships. I guess it is fair to say we have had
great luck faith
in relationships.
If
you are interested in talking more about engaging the community surrounding
Theodore Judah Elementary school through mentoring programs, conversational
english tutoring, or developing friendships though pot-lucks email Tim Hooey at
thooey@gmail.com.
