Shadows and Silence

The recent issues surrounding Don't Ask, Don't Tell are reverberating in my head and soul these days. I find it increasingly difficult to understand and cope with our society's inability and unwillingness to deal with "difference." The policy of DADT is prejudicial and degrades the quality of life of servicemen and women and alike. It's a "path of least resistance" solution. If we ignore something, it isn't real, it really isn't important, or it really, really, really says something about how we feel about ourselves and our dislike for someone else who isn't like us. We don't want to admit we have issues with "the other." This truth holds fast for oppressed people and oppressors alike.

I recall some years ago, after I suffered the consequences of DADT, how I moved home to Arizona and had to row my way through some tough waters to become reconciled to myself, The Church, and the world. It was a period of immense transformation and tremendous struggles. I began a process of "openness" that wasn't, and isn't easy. LGBT people, like people suffering with addictions, homeless people, people of color, un(under) employed and other marginalized individuals and communities constantly have to decide when, where, how, and why to unmask their personal situations, and/or "come out" to their friends, classmates, church congregations, (pastors/priests). The norm seems to be one of avoidance rather than disclosure.

Jesus said "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." (Luke 8:17) . Nonetheless, AA groups continue to meet in safe, but separate locations, as alcoholics remain intoxicated behind the security of the walls of their home. Homeless people stay in congregational shelters even as they worry that someone they know will discover their homelessness.

There are a myriad of ethical issues regarding homelessness, sexual orientation, addictions and the boundaries we put into place around these matters of difference. Faithful people and congregations alike wrestle and work around integration and interaction between members of different races, socio-economic class, generations, and sexual orientations. I'm saddened, but not surprised, by the fact that young people feel a heightened sense of shame because of their economic situation or the fact that they are lesbian, bi, and gay through no fault of their own. I empathize with people to the sense that, at one time, I was gay, unemployed and alone. I didn't want anyone to know. This sense of shame and secrecy leads me to wonder how can we work towards creating better understanding between people and relationships when we decide that the best "win-win" is to avoid one another. I don't have any ready-made answers but it certainly seems like there have to be some ideas out there worth consideration and response.

The reign of God does not exist in the shadows of society's inability to cope with otherness. Jesus the Christ physically and spiritually touched (touches) the outsiders of his day in broad daylight. Can't we work on methods to manifest his compassion today? We should work on one-on-one as well as systematic and institutional methods to become more transparent. There's a difference between hanging out a "welcoming congregation" sign and actually inviting someone into the life of a spiritual community. "Victims" as well as privilege people have to be willing to embrace one another without shame and fear. Otherwise - the institutions of our society will either avoid issues of discrimination and/or not bring them to a vote at all. Shadows of shame and separation will continue to lengthen.

Unemployment

Unemployment in the United States is at its highest rate since 1983. More than 2 million people have lost their jobs in the last two months.

All told, the number of unemployed people climbed to 12.5 million. In addition, the number of people forced to work part time for "economic reasons" rose by a sharp 787,000 to 8.6 million. That's people who would like to work full time but whose hours were cut back or were unable to find full-time work. (Aversa, 6 Mar, 09, para. #9)

I'm not sure what percentage of professional employees have lost their jobs in the last four months but Kevin Hall (2009) of McClatchy Newspaper writes that 180,000 people in the professional and business services sector have been laid off. I personally know of a few professionals who have lost their jobs in and around New York City. This seems to be an interesting phenomenon because unemployment often spikes in over sectors such as manufacturing and production or "blue collar" sectors more so than in professional or "white collar" sectors. At least, I think that it does. No one is safe these days.

I got laid off from a job when I was 42 years old. I was working as a consultant one day. I was on the street the next. My director walked in, said that the consulting company I was working for had been purchased by another company. The leadership had decided to lay off 20% of the people in the company and I was one of them. They paid me for two weeks and asked me to clear out my desk. They laid off another guy who had just got married the Saturday before the announcement came.

That was a depressing moment in my life. It's not only a matter of wondering how I was going to pay the rent and feed myself. I can't imagine the grief or fear that a "bread-winner" feels when she or he looses the family's source of income. Terrible! We tie up so much into the paychecks we earn. Even more, we place so much credence and "worth" into our jobs. We loose something of ourselves when we become unemployed.

Virginia Bola offers these seven coping mechanisms for people who are out of work. The last one stood out for me in terms of thinking of unemployment from a faith perspective:

Be kind to yourself.Your self-confidence, self-esteem and self-regard have all been hit with a steel boot. Actively look at yourself with the eyes of a concerned friend and give yourself the support, sympathy, and goodwill that you would extend to anyone you love who had suffered the same fate.

Jesus offered compassion to the people around him. Many of them were out of work or underemployed. His gospel was a gospel of hope. Many of his followers continued to suffer persecution after he departed from their midst. I'd like to think that one thing we can learn from them and him is that they sought ways to help one another during their mutual times of crisis. It may be such a time for many of us to swallow our pride, admit our fears, pray for God's assistance - especially for other families we know who are struggling, be gentle to others and to ourselves in this time of need, and seek out grace-filled communities of faith and friendship to find shelter during this economic storm.

May our Church offer peace, wisdom, and love to all who come our way in these uncertain days.

Blessings Along The Way,
Jim+