Journal of Sacred Work

Caregivers have superpowers! Radical Loving Care illuminates the divine truth that caregiving is not just a job. It is Sacred Work.

About

Former President & CEO of multiple hospital systems and founding president & CEO of 20-hospital OhioHealth, best selling author, film artist, ordained minister, composer, published poet, syndicated T.V. host, trial attorney, federal prosecutor and Municipal Court Judge. Erie is internationally known as the founder of the Radical Loving Care(R)movement. He also heads Erie Chapman Foundation, Dane Dakota Productions, LLC, and Chapman Health International, Inc.

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Days 123-124 No Where to Go

April 29, 2017

Note: Reflection by Liz Sorensen Wessel. Each morning on my drive to work I see the tents along the river bank and I wonder, who are these people and what are their stories? It is startling to see a river of blue tarps and makeshift tents that have begun to wind along the embankment stretching out for miles. What is happening? There are so many people living out on the streets. The situation has become increasingly harder to ignore.

This evening, I heard a young man speak; Mohammad Ali. Once homeless himself, this lawyer is a fiercely passionate advocate for the plight of those who are homeless. It is easy to judge and label those who are nameless but Mohammad cautions that people can not be separated into worthy or unworthy.

People who do not have a roof over their head are criminalized. It is illegal to sleep on the street. We may think people become homeless due to drugs or alcohol. Yet, the longer a person is on the street the more difficult survival becomes and this can be the reason people turn to drugs or alcohol. Last year, over 200 homeless people died in our county and the death rate has dramatically increased over the past few years.

Tonight our community gathered to learn more, seek solutions and to offer a helping hand. We were encouraged to realize that collaborative efforts and joining forces can create the momentum for change. Before dealing with difficult life challenges, people must have their basic human needs met. “Housing First” is a proven program that ends homelessness by quickly providing permanent housing and support services.

A participant spoke with emotion as she shared her heart, “When I lie in my nice comfortable bed at night and I think of all the people who are out in the cold without adequate shelter and I find it is almost more that I can bear. I work in the prison ministry and the people I meet are just like me; they are no different. Yet, it seems that our society has lost its humanity. "

It is up to all of us to help reclaim it. There but for the grace of God go you and me.

Liz Sorensen Wessel

Posted in Uncategorized

11 responses to “Days 123-124 No Where to Go”

Terry Chapman

April 29, 2017

Many times, usually during severe blasts of winter, descending on my New England town, I say to my wife, “We are so blessed to be here in our safe shelter; our condo, our home. Our home reflects who we are; simply decorated, very clean, and sacred, to us. Our home is part of who we are!
But out on the streets: there are so many suffering from homelessness, poverty, inadequate or non-existent healthcare, lack of hope; lack of any supportive person or group. What to do?
I imagine I could easily step out at an intersection, with a crudely etched sign, saying something like, “Please help if you can. I was a member of society but now am homeless and hungry. I can mow lawns or write you an essay, or shovel snow, but I am unable to find a job. Do you see me standing beside your car? Even a dollar will show me I am not completely forgotten. Thank you for reading this.”

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Lynn

April 29, 2017

We are instructed to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our neighbors are all those who enter our consciousness, those of whom we are aware. As we welcome all within our mental household into our hearts and give them over to God as a part of ourselves, we become the vessel through which God’s blessings begin to do their great work and divine solutions unfold and our greater role is revealed. God bless you and your community of caring hearts.

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~liz Wessel

April 29, 2017

Hi Terry, thanks you so much for your thoughtful comment and compassionate response.

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~liz Wessel

April 29, 2017

Beautifully expressed and so true Lynn, thank you

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Maureen McDermott

April 30, 2017

Liz, how sad and true is the reality of homelessness, especially in the personal and humane way in which you expressed the experience. I ask myself, ‘how often do I see the ‘homeless’ as my brother or sister or even myself?’. As you concluded, Liz, ‘there goes me or you but for the grace of God’. Thank you Liz for sharing this experience which is becoming far too common in far too many countries.

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~liz Wessel

April 30, 2017

It is not until we can see the ‘other’, “as my brother or sister or even myself” that true compassion is awakened and experienced. Thank you, Maureen.

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sbeng

April 30, 2017

Liz: it is a sobering situation to see homeless people encamping under the bridge -in the heat and the cold! I have read e.g. in another city in this county portable toilets were set up for their use. This may/may not not be practical due to the terrain. May the Lord bless you and your community of caring people in trying the level best to meet the needs of these people in unfortunate circumstances.

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erie chapman

April 30, 2017

LIz
What a fine and important piece you have written. And you have enhanced it by making your art a statement of its own. Thank you for choosing this subject to engage your powerful creative gifts. Your words sit against church walls – the ultimate sanctuaries of the ages. Who are the caregivers for the homeless? Were it each of us than there would be no homelessness. Blessings to you.

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Liz

April 30, 2017

Yes, I agree Suan. Funny you should mention the portable toilets that is what Mohammed is advocating for as one of the short term solutions to the issue. The ask is for people to attend the City Council meeting in Santa Ana next week in a show of support.

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~liz Wessel

April 30, 2017

Thank you for your keen observations of my photo art pairing on this issue, Erie as well as your incredibly insightful comment, “Who are the caregivers for the homeless? Were it each of us than there would be no homelessness.”

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maryjane

June 15, 2017

thank you for this.

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