The Journey Continues

Dear family & friends,

I hope that this letter finds you well and enjoying summer!

One year ago I wrote many of you asking for your support as I prepared to begin a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest (JVC NW). I wrote in the wake of graduating from Seattle Pacific and the shooting which occurred there a week prior to graduation. Those events led me to more deeply recognize and appreciate how many people I love and how many people love me and have shaped me. During that time all I wanted was to be those I love and to be held by my community. But I had a commitment to keep, so, after a confusing summer, I headed to a new place, with new people to offer a year of service and discover what it held for me. I’m writing to share an update on my past year in Gresham, OR, and what I am up to next.

Of course, a single letter cannot contain what the last year has been for me, and I cannot summarize what all has happened, but I will try to share a glimpse of where my soul has travelled.

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I’ve dwelled in the sorrow of loneliness and loss of the community I knew at SPU. I’ve resided in the confusion of transition, feeling unknown and not knowing the place and people in my presence.

And, yet, I have also experienced the joy of new connections and new community. I have come to deeply love my housemates. When I have trusted others to be with me when I have sat in grief and anxiety, I have received tenderness and care.

I have borne the weight of accompanying people experiencing trauma in extreme poverty. I have stood in awe of what people carry, and I have struggled to be present to such suffering.

And, yet, I have also borne witness to the resilience, determination, creativity, and humor which people can demonstrate in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances. I have stood in awe of people finding a way and overcoming.

I have witnessed violence, mental illness, addiction, racism, profound isolation, and the human toll of systemic injustice.

And, yet, I have seen the care, healing, and love that people are capable of, even when all material possessions are stripped away. I have seen individuals and communities come together to carry a vision and work together toward a city where all people may flourish and contribute meaningfully.

I have known frustration, uncertainty, and isolation at work. At times, I have felt unsupported, and I have not extended support. At times, I have failed or felt like a failure.

And, yet, I have continued to show up. I learned and grew through the challenges. I have taken ownership and felt accomplished.

I have wandered with absence. My faith has felt hollow. I struggle to pray.

And, yet, in the desert, in the absence, somehow life enlarges. Doubts and questions have been my prayers. Even as I do not always believe, I trust that I am not alone and that I am a beloved child. I choose to trust the mystery that God is present in the absence – for even Jesus knew this absence.

And I have encountered Incarnation - places and people have offered me a fresh water; I have drank in wonder and Presence.

I have seen the sun rise over desert canyons, beheld waterfalls by moonlight, gazed over endless forest with the sun and moon suspended over opposite horizons, stood still with trees and birds as my sole companions, and danced to the beat of ocean waves and singing of the sea breeze. And I have danced in the living room, talked late into the night, and received the gift of community in so many ways. With companions, I have walked, wept, adventured, been bored, laughed, sang, shared meals, shared stories, dared, prayed, played, questioned, listened, reconciled, loved and received love, sojourned, and traveled far.

This has been one of the hardest years of my life, but it has been good. It has been gift, and it has been grace.

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I want to thank you for your support. I appreciate the prayers, letters, messages, times people have let me crash at their place, and visitors I’ve received. Even for those of you who I have not directly been in contact with this year, thank you for how you have touched my life. Thank you for the love, care and wisdom and which has shaped my life and who I am becoming as I seek to live a life of service.

I would like to ask for your continued support as I have signed on for another year of service with JVC NW. I am committing to spend another year examining and deepening my practice of the values of community, social & ecological justice, simple living and spirituality. Come August, I will head off to orientation and then move into a JV house in Portland with seven new community-mates. In mid-August, I will begin my service as the Volunteer Coordinator, Editorial and Vendor Program Assistant with Street Roots, the street newspaper in Portland. I will accompany people experiencing homelessness and poverty supporting their work in selling the paper to improve their quality of life, and I will support the organization in fulfilling its mission to be a catalyst for individual and social change.

I am fortunate to be a part of a service program which covers my basic living expenses so that I do not need to ask for financial support. However, I still cherish your support in other forms. If you are a person of faith, I covet your prayer and blessing (I’ve included prayer requests beneath my signature line). I always love receiving letters and notes, and will do my best to write back. I do not know my address yet, but if you email me, I will send it to you as soon as I know. You also are welcome to follow my blog which I occasionally update and hope to contribute to more consistently next year. And, if you are ever in the Portland area let’s meet up! I love hosting visitors.

Thank you. Hope to see you soon.

With love,
Scott

Prayer requests:
 For peace as I say many goodbyes and many helloes transitioning from my current community and service placement to the next
 For wisdom, hope, renewal, love and humility as I continue to be in relationship with people on the margins
 For healing, reconciliation and justice in the places of violence, suffering and oppression in our world, and in our own hearts

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views, or intents of Jesuit Volunteers Corps Northwest.

Eight Reasons You Should Do JVC NW

I am currently just over halfway through my year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps NW, and I am loving it. Stepping into this year has been a huge transition, and I have struggled in many ways, but the challenges have spurred growth and they have been accompanied by great joys. I am finding my year with JVC NW to be transformative and  meaningful, and I am on a mission to get more SPU students to join the program.

Here are eight reasons you (specifically SPU students) should consider a year of service with JVC NW:

1. The Values

Spirituality. Community. Simple Living. Social & Ecological Justice. These are the values that center JVC NW and guide the JV experience. When I stumbled upon JVC NW during Christmas break of my senior year, it was the values which initially attracted me to the program. I believe that who you are becoming is of far greater experience than what you are doing. I wanted an opportunity after college that would offer me the structure and support to more fully align my values, passions and purpose. I wanted an opportunity that would shape me into a more loving, compassionate and just person. As a follower of Jesus, I desire to love God and love people with my whole self, and I see the values and holistic experience of JVC NW shaping me more into the person God intends me to be.

2. Community

At SPU, I experienced community like I never had before. As ready as I was to graduate, I was nervous for what community would look like outside of SPU. I desired to continue to live in intentional community, and JVC NW fit the bill. Leaving SPU and stepping into new a community in a new city, workplace and household has been hard. Really hard at times. I've struggled at times with what it looks like to maintain relationships from SPU while seeking to be fully present in my new place. It takes times to build trust with new people and there are the practical challenges of living with five people with different personalities, communication styles, and beliefs. But, I love it. I love my community-mates, and I love the struggles and joys that come with sharing life together. My housemates have seen me at my best and worst, and they have continued to love me. Living in community rewards you with new friendships, greater knowledge of your self, and experience which may benefit other current and future relationships.

3. Engage the Culture, Change the World...

I loved SPU's mission when I first arrived as a freshman. Over time, I have become less and less enthralled with it (It can feel like a savior-complex, and what does it even mean?). But the impulse behind SPU's mission to engage and seek the Kingdom of God in the here and now is good, I think. At SPU, I had my eyes opened to the great need for change in the world, and the great needs for change in myself. I don't know if I can change the world, but I can change the economics, politics, and social relationships in my personal and communal daily life. JVC NW provides the opportunity to enter into mutual relationships with people who are marginalized, and to let yourself be changed. I think this is immensely valuable no matter your vocation. A year of service as a JV is an opportunity explore what it looks for you to live out SPU's mission with intentionality.

4. Getting Out of the Bubble

As much as I loved my community at SPU, it also felt insular at times. JVC NW is committed to increasing diversity. The cohort of JVs comes from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and locations. While JVC NW is rooted in the Jesuit Catholic tradition, it is open to people of any or no faith tradition. It is not a missional or discipleship program, and I appreciate this. I love being in relationship with community-mates, co-workers and people I serve who look at the world in ways very different from myself.

5. Meaningful Service

JVC NW is not an internship. The service I do feels important, and I am treated as much as part of the team as anyone who works at my placement. There is a saying among JVs that none of us are qualified for the positions we are in, but we are capable. You may be a volunteer, but the JV positions are challenging, stimulating, come with a lot of responsibility and are of significant value to organizations. JVC NW partners with agencies who are working for structural social change and justice, and offering a year of service adds capacity to this work and make an impactful difference.

5. The Pacific Northwest is Best

From Montana to Alaska, and everywhere in between, I love the Northwest. If you do JVC NW, you will live in a beautiful place. And you automatically will have a place stay pretty much anywhere in the PNW.

6. The Structure and Support

JVC NW has been around for over 55 years. It served as a model for the PeaceCorps. You would be hard-pressed to find a better designed service program. From my initial interest in applying, to my interview, to orientation, to my actual experience in the program, I have been continually impressed by the staff and organization. The process of becoming a JV is one of mutual discernment and communication is very open and clear. The year begins with a weeklong orientation that made the transition into the year much better. Throughout the year there are three regional retreats. Every JV community has a Program Coordinator who visits two-times throughout the year and is available to offer support. Each community also has local support people. Our support people are two couples who let us borrow their car, occasionally bring us food, have us over for dinner, and generally are available if we are in need of something. There is an 80 year old retired priest down the road from us, who regularly brings us baked good. There also are former JVs in the area who can offer support, or at the very least come to our parties. You also can receive spiritual direction or mental health services. I am currently receiving spiritual direction for free which I have found very helpful. There is a tremendous amount of support available while recognizing that you are an adult and letting you have a lot of autonomy. 

7. The Jesuits are Rad

By becoming a JV, you become connected to a community and tradition that is nearly 500 years old. I am not Catholic, and was only loosely familiar with the Jesuits coming into the year, but I have enjoyed learning about the Jesuit Catholic tradition. This tradition is marked by openness, imagination, reflection, and faith lived out in service to the world. The Jesuits are rad both in that they are cool and in that they are very radical. There is space to embrace and learn from the connection to this tradition as much or as little as you wish, but there is a lot there that can inform your year if you wish. I also believe that this connection orients the approach to justice work which resonates with what I learned in my global development studies and through the Perkins Center.

8. The Benefits

By far the largest benefits of doing JVC NW is the transformation that comes with embracing and living out the four values of the program in service and community, and the relationship you form. But there are also numerous external benefits which make the program practical and doable. In contrast to many service programs, all of your basic needs are met during service. There are no financial costs to doing JVC NW. You receive money for rent, food, household supplies, transportation and a small stipend each month. Health insurance is also offered, if needed. Most JVs are able to defer their loans for the year. Additionally, the majority of JV positions are also AmeriCorps positions which brings along the AmeriCorps perks (if also more paperwork). At the end of my service I will receive a $5500 AmeriCorps education award which I can use toward paying back loans or future education. Many graduate schools will match this award, and other scholarships are available at many schools for people who have completed service programs. Finally, you have a year of professional experience and development which will benefit any future work and/or schooling. Oh, and you are connected to a huge network of awesome people doing awesome work.

Check out www.jvcnorthwest.org!  

If you are interested in learning more about JVC NW and my experience thus far, feel free to reach out to me! (call/text or email me, jacksons1@spu.edu) 

The priority deadline for applying is February 23rd, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis thereafter. 

You also can reach out to James, the JVC NW recruiter, to learn more (recruiter@jvcnorthwest.org). 

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views, or intents of Jesuit Volunteers Corps Northwest.

Response(s) Pt. 2

So I got asked another set of questions for a section in the forthcoming Response magazine which will have brief vignettes of SPU alum meeting the challenge of homelessness. I enjoyed these questions almost as much as the first set so I thought I would share them on the blog as well. Feel free to read if you are interested in learning more about the service I am doing this year.

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1.      Please provide some additional detail on the immersion experiences you coordinate. How are they the same and how do they differ from SPU Urban Plunge experiences? These take place in downtown Portland? How does Portland compare with Seattle in how the homeless are treated? Students from many schools participate? You say most are students – what other people also do these? Would you describe what a typical day for one of the participants might look like?

The immersion program is designed as an educational experience for people to learn about poverty and social injustices through relationships and conversation. The immersions range in length from a half-day to a whole week. Through volunteering, tours, conversations with people on the streets, dinner with friends of JOIN (both housed and un-housed), discussion and reflection students gain insight into the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness, and, hopefully, become motivated to seek social change. My hope is that the immersion experiences will be both informative and transformative. Participants are provided with the opportunity to break down stereotypes and stigma, ask new questions, explore the root causes of homelessness, examine how their own lives are connected to social injustices, and begin a journey toward with compassion and justice.

The JOIN immersions share similar goals to SPU’s Urban Plunge though with different foundations and a bit more structure. JOIN’s immersions began in partnership with the Catholic Archdiocese and are informed by liberation theology and the Catholic Worker movement. JOIN is not a faith-based organization, so the immersions have no direct religious element, though there is space to discuss how spirituality is related to justice if participants bring this into conversation. This is in contrast to Urban Plunge which includes prayer and exploration of what a Christian response to homelessness ought to be. Also, whereas on Urban Plunge, participants have significant amount of unstructured time to explore in groups, JOIN’s immersions are more guided. The immersion experience is facilitated by myself and some of my friends who have experienced homelessness.

A typical day on an immersion would begin at JOIN which is located in NE Portland. Participants wake up at 5am after sleeping on the hardwood floor in “the House” as a small act of solidarity with those sleeping outside. We then take the MAX light rail into Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood which is just south of the downtown business district. The first activity of the day is volunteering at the Blanchet House of Hospitality serving breakfast. Participants have the opportunity to see how a feeding center works, interact with guests, and volunteer alongside men who are in a recovery program at Blanchet and run the meal provision. After breakfast, my friend Larry and I co-lead a tour of Old Town allowing participants to see social service providers, neighborhood dynamics, and issues affecting people outside. Larry talks about the challenges he faced living without housing for over thirty years before returning inside with assistance from JOIN. Following the tour, the participants break into small groups for two hours of exploring Old Town. During this time, participants visit organizations, engage with people, observe the neighborhood, see what it’s like to be outside without a place to rest, and find lunch with only a $1 each. When this exploration ends, we take the bus over to a place called “the caves” underneath the Ross Island Bridge on the east side of the river. People camp in “the caves” which are underneath the roadway above a steep embankment. My friend Julius shares his story of being homeless for nearly a decade and points out exactly where he slept underneath the roadway. After this activity, there is a break in the day to allow participants to rest and process what they have experienced. Participants have a journal with guiding questions and additional information to facilitate their learning. In the evening, we share a dinner with guests who I have built relationships with in the day space or who have been housed by JOIN. Guests have an opportunity to share their stories, and we all get to share a meal together as one community. The day ends with processing through journaling, discussion in small and large groups and an evening reflection.

So far I have led immersions with groups from three high schools and one university with over 100 participants total between all the groups. Coming up in the spring and summer, I have about seven immersions scheduled with groups from high schools, universities and youth groups. The experiences are open to adult groups, and I would like the program more visible to adult groups that might be interested. Last year, JOIN’s board participated in an immersion.

I don’t know if I have enough knowledge to answer how Portland treatment of people experiencing homelessness compares with Seattle’s. Both cities are viewed as being relatively friendly to people on the streets and there are more resources available than many other places. At the same time, people outside still face significant stigma. Though both cities are known as very progressive places, there still is significant NIMBYism (Not in my backyard). Both cities have thousands of people sleeping outside without shelter beds available. Affordable housing is increasingly hard to find in both cities, and gentrification is transforming both cities. The Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) conducted interviews with 1,200 people experiencing poverty and homelessness and found:

“• 81% of survey respondents reported being harassed, cited, or arrested for sleeping.

• 77% of survey respondents reported being harassed, cited, or arrested for sitting or lying on the sidewalk.

• 66% of survey respondents reported being harassed, cited, or arrested for loitering or

hanging out.

• Only 26% of the respondents said they knew of a safe place to sleep at night.”

           

These statistics resonate with the stories I hear from people I meet at JOIN. While Seattle and Portland are much friendlier than other places, and there are strong governmental and private efforts to end homelessness, the reality is that in both places there are not enough resources and people are treated inhumanely.

2.      “The House” is a day center only, no overnight housing? You facilitate guests getting the help they need? All ages? Is this also located in downtown Portland? How many are able to transition off the streets into housing?

“The House” is a day center only. We are open 10am-3pm, Monday thru Friday and located in NE Portland (in the Montavilla neighborhood, which could be loosely compared to Aurora in Seattle). We are open to anyone and have a diverse group of guests in terms of age, gender, race, family, and housing status. We try to create a safe and welcoming space for all. Equity and inclusion are a high priority at JOIN, and we continue to learn how we can best live out these values in our work individually and organizationally.

I help facilitate our guests accessing the basic services we offer. I work with our volunteers to provide showers, mail, computer access, locker space, clothing, hygiene items, haircuts, etc. to guests. I answer questions and respond to requests for items and assistance. I greet guests and provide an overview of what we offer and how we run on a barter point system. To the best of my ability I also provide referral to additional services that people are looking for. I try to provide the resources people need which could be anything from information on how to get on waiting lists for housing, to where to get food, to how to use email, to making a copy of a document, to giving them shoe laces, and seemingly anything and everything in between.

Beyond the tangible resources I may be available to provide, I seek to offer a humble, positive presence. I try to extend human connection and care to each guest I encounter, honoring their dignity, worth, knowledge and resilience. I try to recognize that I have a lot to learn and receive from the people I am privileged to accompany in service.

It is a difficult question to answer how many people transition off the streets into housing. Our guests in the day space include people who are chronically homeless as well as people who may just be outside temporarily or episodically. The main mission of JOIN is to support people in getting off the streets and into permanent housing but this efforts is somewhat separate from our work in the day space. All of JOIN’s assistance with housing is done through outreach looking to connect with the most vulnerable populations and people who might not be accessing services elsewhere. We have eight outreach workers who build relationships with people outside or in their vehicles throughout the entirety of Portland and East Multnomah County. Workers come alongside people to support them where they are at, and offer a hand-up to so that they may overcome barriers to leaving the streets. Funds are available to cover application fees, deposits and first month’s rent when someone finds an apartment. In 2013, JOIN supported 713 individuals transition from homelessness to permanent housing (including 92 families with over 200 children under the age of 18). We also have five retention workers who support people we’ve helped transition into housing in maintaining that housing. Retention workers offer friendly visits, community building activities, occasional financial resource, and other resources to meet needs as they arise.

3.      Describe one of the more meaningful exchanges you have had with a guest.

It was probably September or October when I met a man whose name I will refrain from sharing to protect his privacy. Now I didn’t really know this man, but he came into JOIN fairly often and I had checked his mail enough times to remember his name. One day, as I was walking through the relative chaos of the day space with a number of tasks on my mind, I noticed that he was sitting alone and looking morose. I almost walked past him, but I decided to pause and ask him how his day was going. His day was not going well, and for the next twenty minutes he proceeded to tell me his story.

He had been with a woman whom he considered his wife for nearly eight years. During that time, both of them had experienced homelessness for periods of time and struggled with addiction. At one point, his drug use had caused his wife to lose the housing she had recently moved into. Yet after this, and through all the ups and downs, the two of them had always come back together. But over the summer, he had begun using again and lost his job. He felt so much shame that he stole his wife’s car and left without telling her. At the point I was talking with him, he had been away for a couple months and never let her know where he was. He told me that he loved her so much and wanted to make things right.

This man allowed me to bear witness to his life. He entrusted me with personal details and demonstrated a deep vulnerability in sharing with me much that he wished were different in his life. He invited me to be present with him in a way that I think many of us may find difficult. It can be scary to let others into our places of fear, loneliness, and regret. It may be much easier to hide or numb and never let into the light the deep sorrows, as well as the deep joys, of our lives. So many of the guests at JOIN have gifted me with their stories and allowing me to walk next to them on their journey.

My first conversation with this man has led to many more. He has offered me friendship which defies the roles of service provider and recipient. I have been able to offer this man continued support through a very difficult season in his life not because it is my job, but we because we have a mutual relationship of care and concern.

4.      Do you know what you might like to do after your year of service with the Volunteer Corps?

That is a great question! The short answer is I do not know. One possibility is doing a second year of service with JVC NW or doing a similar program elsewhere. Another possibility would be looking for employment at a not-for-profit or church doing justice work most likely in Seattle or Portland. I also am discerning the possibility of pursuing theological education or a masters degree in social work. Right now, I feel content to be in a place of unknowing, and I am focusing on being present. I want to be open to what this year invites me to, and I know it will continue to bring unforeseen opportunities. Rather than being concerned about what I will do, I am hoping to focus more on who I am becoming and place myself where I will be guided and transformed by God’s grace. I know that I have a lot to learn, and whatever I end up doing, I hope to be under leadership and within community that will challenge and inspire me.

5.      What keeps you optimistic about the service and justice work you do?

The people I work with keep me optimistic about the service and justice work I do. I have the honor of accompanying people facing some of the most difficult circumstances humans can face, and they keep going. I see the resilience and creativity people demonstrating in surviving. I have seen people make it into housing despite seemingly insurmountable odds. The beauty, worth and strength of the human spirit continually amazes me. I work with people who have their humanity reduced to labels and stereotypes “bum,” “addict,” “felon,”“lazy” – yet each person I meet has a story and a personality so much larger than their socioeconomic status.

I do not want to overly romanticize the situation. While people do live with hope and resilience, I do see homelessness crush people’s spirits. I have seen people do terrible things to others and themselves. I see a tremendous amount of need that exceeds the resources available. I see the deep effects of systemic oppression on individuals. Sometimes I feel like the work I am doing makes no difference.

Yet, while I see such great need and brokenness, I also see strength, redemption and change. I see the image of God in the people I work with and this keeps me going. 

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views, or intents of Jesuit Volunteers Corps Northwest.

Response(s)

I recently was invited to respond to some interview questions that could go into a section in the forthcoming Response magazine which will have brief vignettes of SPU alum meeting the challenge of homelessness. I am not sure if I will end up in the magazine, but I really enjoyed the questions and thought I would share my responses here.

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1.      Please tell me a bit about yourself and life after SPU. What is your position with Jesuit Volunteer Corps and how long have you been in the position?

I am from the Seattle area (Bothell), and I spent four wonderful, transformative years at SPU graduating in June 2014. While at SPU, I had my eyes opened to many social injustices and my privilege in society. Through classes, conversations and experiences through the John Perkins Center, my desire to participate in God’s liberating and reconciling mission in the world grew, and I have felt a calling to dedicate my life to service and justice. Specifically, through Urban Involvement (UI), I had the opportunity to engage in service and enter into relationship with people experiencing homelessness. I participated in and led Urban Plunge, became involved with TC3’s first visit, led educational and advocacy efforts through UI, volunteered at a men’s shelter downtown, interned at a shelter in Denver, and sought to promote reconciliation and justice through my position as the ASSP VP of Ministries.

All of these experiences during my time at SPU led to my decision to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps NW for a year of service. As a Jesuit Volunteer/AmeriCorps member I seek to holistically live out the values of social & ecological justice, simple living, community and spirituality. I live with five other JVs in intentional community sharing a small budget. Each of us serves at various non-profits full-time. I serve as the Immersion Coordinator at JOIN, an organization seeking to support people’s transition off the streets into housing. I have been in the position since August 2014 and my service will conclude in July 2015.

2.       Tell me a little of the scope of what you do in your position.

As the Immersion Coordinator, I run JOIN’s immersion program which educates groups on homelessness and social justice. I do the recruitment, organization, facilitation, and development of immersion experiences which range in length from a half-day to a whole week. Throughout the year, I will lead fifteen groups (mostly student groups) on experiences where they will have the opportunity to converse with and learn from people experiencing homelessness, volunteer, see efforts to end homelessness and reflect on the root causes of social injustice and their connection to it. The immersions break down stereotypes, build community, and motivate students to pursue personal and social transformation. 

Alongside my service doing community education through the immersion program, I also do direct service in JOIN’s day center which we call “the House.” Two or three days a week, I run lead on “the House” overseeing the operations of providing people with basic services including showers, mail, computers, hygiene items, lockers, clothing, and simply a place to be during the day. I support and direct our community volunteers, help guests access basic services, provide referrals to other services, maintain a peaceful and welcoming environment, respond to crises and conflict, build relationships with guests and try to offer a compassionate, non-anxious presence to each person I encounter.

3.       What was your major at SPU and how has it prepared you to work with the homeless?

        My studies in Global Development at SPU provided me with motivation, knowledge, experience, and an approach that have been critical in my work with people experiencing homelessness. As a GDS student, I was blessed to be in a community of peers and teachers who shared and fostered my passion for pursuing justice. My classes exposed me to the realities of poverty near and far and the need for personal and societal transformation. I learned about the root, systemic causes of this poverty, and formed a conceptual framework for understanding homelessness. Through my internship for GDS and related volunteer work, I gained direct experience working with people without housing. My studies in Global Studies fostered my approach to service which is grounded in mutuality, learning, and pursuing social justice.

4.       What is most urgently needed of people of faith with regard to the challenge of homelessness?

Those experiencing homelessness are some of the most poor and vulnerable members of our society. As I serve daily among people experiencing homelessness, I witness the daily suffering of individuals and families who live outside, and the disparities and broken systems which cause and perpetuate homelessness in society. We need people of faith to follow Christ in serving the poor among us, and to seek first God’s Kingdom of peace and justice. We need people of faith, to offer mercy and do justice, as they humbly join God’s reconciling work in the world, seeking renewal in our relationship with God, and our relationship with one another, individually and communally.

In confronting the challenge of homelessness, people of faith are urgently needed to offer mercy. People living outside experience significant trauma and challenges in simply surviving. People of faith can support people in meeting their basic needs.  Extending compassion and human connection can be of great meaning as homelessness entails stigmatization and isolation. A simple smile and acknowledgement of someone’s existence can make someone’s day. We need communities of faith that see their relationships as extending beyond the doors of the church and out to the streets. We need people of faith that welcome the stranger into their community, meeting them where they are at and seeing not only their need but also their great worth and gifting. We are all dependent upon communities which support us in tangible and intangible ways; people of faith are called to extend this love and connection to those in need, walking with people in overcoming difficult circumstances and welcoming and empowering their contribution to community. As people of faith offer mercy and open themselves to those on the streets, the Spirit of God will be present, and all present, rich and poor, may be transformed.

Yet, more is needed than just meeting people where they are at and offering mercy. We urgently need people of faith to confront and transform the conditions which cause suffering. We need people of faith to enact justice personally and socially. On a societal level, homelessness is caused by poverty and lack of affordable housing which intersect with racial injustice and other forms of oppression. These social injustices, combined with personal vulnerabilities, lead to an astounding number of people without housing. We need people of faith to create a world where everyone can afford to live inside. We need the Church to bear prophetic witness, criticizing the current disparity and imagining another of way of being as a society. We need people of faith to examine their own lives and commit to living in a way that promotes justice. We need people of faith to find creative ways, as individuals and as communities, to restructure our political, social and economic systems so that they work for all and especially for the most vulnerable among us. We need people of faith to counter a culture centered on self-advancement and consumerism, with subversive communities centered on loving God and loving people.

We urgently need people of faith to be transformed by entering into relationship with people experiencing homelessness and to offer their material, human and spiritual resources to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth, creating a world where no one need live outside.

5.       What do you most want people to know about the homeless? What most inspires/challenges you about your work?

        I want people to know that each person who is experiencing homelessness is a beloved child of God, with a story that is so much larger than the stereotypes and categorizations that we fit homeless people in. Each person who is experiencing homelessness, be it for a day or twenty years, is a person. We should not reduce someone to their socioeconomic status. Each person who lives outside is full of potential and gifted by God. Each person who lives outside is full of hopes, regrets, quirks, faults, strengths, ideas, and dreams. Each person who lives outside is of infinite worth and deserving of respect and dignity.

      I have found my service to be challenging as I witness much suffering. It is hard to hold the heaviness that I experience as I enter into relationship with people who are facing some of the most difficult circumstances people can face. As I see the tangible effects of great injustice, it can be hard to find energy and hope. Yet, I am also inspired by the resilience people demonstrate in surviving and overcoming homelessness. I am grateful for the opportunity to be in relationship with so many diverse and unique people, and to see the humanity of people living in inhumane conditions.

6.       How can the readers of Response pray for you?

I would appreciate prayers for physical, emotional and spiritual well-being so that I may sustain the work I am doing. Readers may also pray that I am granted wisdom so that I serve well and become a more loving and just person. And finally, that I might be able to see the presence of Christ in each person I encounter.

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views, or intents of Jesuit Volunteers Corps Northwest.

Christmas Letter/Advent Reflections

My Christmas letter this year.

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Dear Friends and Family,                                                                                                    

Greetings from Gresham, Oregon! I hope that this letter finds you well and enjoying the holidays.

I find the writing of Christmas letters to be a beautiful tradition. Every year my mom writes a letter for our family to wish those near and far a merry Christmas and share what has gone on with our family in the past year. It honors the vast array of people who are important to our family, even if they may not be present with us in day-to-day life. 

I am sure my mom will be writing a letter again this year, but since this will be my first Christmas not at home, I thought I would begin my own letter-writing tradition. I want to send my love and Christmas greetings, and share a bit of what has happened with me leading up to this Advent.

In July I wrote to many of you just before embarking upon my year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps NW. At the time, I was feeling a deep desire to reconnect with many in my community and family. The shooting at SPU led me to a realization of how loved I am by so many people and how many people there are in my life whom I love dearly. Yet this realization was held in tension with the knowledge that I would soon be departing for a new place and many new relationships.

This season of my life had been one of much transition. Now close to halfway through my JV year, I have come to love the people I live and work with, but I still feel geographically, relationally and spiritually displaced. This is not comfortable, but I also think it may be an indicator that I am right where I am supposed to be. I think of all those God has called out of their place of security to a new land and know that I am in good company.  I am seeking to cultivate my capacity to be present with myself, others and God as I lean into the transition and tensions.  

In particular, this year has invited me to hold together grief and joy. There is loss in leaving SPU and the ensuing changes in many friendships. At the same time, I am thankful for the fun, excitement and care that has come in many new relationships. I have bore witness to great suffering this year. I have seen the harshness of daily life that people experiencing homelessness face and how this individual suffering if a violence of systematic oppression. At the same time, I have witnessed the inspiring resilience of people in some of the most difficult circumstances a human could face. I have seen people secure employment and move into housing. I have had the privilege to be in relationship with people on the margins and see that their humanity is so much larger than the poverty which is just a piece of their story.

I love the Advent season because it allows us to hold lament and hope together, and in fact, see that it is necessary to do so. Hope is not a blind optimism that minimizes, but an acknowledgment of the pain of the world with the expectation that wholeness and healing are coming toward us. If we were not hopeful, we would never lament because we would be in a cyncism that doesn’t expect anything different. In Advent, we sit in holy longing for something better. In expecting the light of the world to come, we must lament the current darkness.

I have never been more aware of the darkness in the world than in this advent season. On the fore of my mind are the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The longstanding reality of racial injustice in America is coming to the surface in a new way, and it is a reality that is difficult to face in its horror, and seeming endlessness. I long to live in a country where black lives matter and justice comes to fruition in our relationships, culture, and social structures. 

I also long for a world where no one need sleep outside. I think of the man who I came across a couple weeks ago when I was the first person to arrive at work. He was out of his wheelchair, asleep in our doorway. As I approached him, I could see that he was soaking wet and absolutely freezing. It had rained all night with temperatures in the mid 30s. Such a night is one of the worst nights to be homeless. When it is extremely cold, the city will call severe weather which triggers the opening of additional shelters and outreach to people outside. But on this night severe weather had not been called because it was not cold enough, even though people can still become hypothermic or even die in the cold rain.

The man on our doorstep had made his way to a shelter but was turned away because he did not have the $5 to pay their fee, he had a dog, and they cannot accodomate someone with his severe medical conditions. Rather than connect him to another service, they turned him away to the cold night. He then made his way to JOIN where a police officer spotted him. He told me that the police would check in on him every hour, but could not drive him to another shelter in their car due to policy. The police did not let any JOIN staff know he was there (who would have found some way to get him inside) so that I was the person to find him in the morning. He has metal plates in his body that cause neorological issues when they become cold making it hard for him to move. I helped him inside, and when one of my co-workers arrived, we helped him change into drive clothes so that he could warm up. JOIN then put him up in a motel for a week as an outreach worker found a longer-term solution.

We live in a world where one of the most vulnerable members of society can be left outside to literally freeze. It would be easier to not see this. It would be easier to ignore. It can be hard to have hope when I witness the struggle of so many and the oppression which divides our society.

But there is hope. The light comes in the darkness. God takes on flesh and enters our condition. The Christ child enters the world in humble conditions, in the midst of infanticide. We have so commercialized and tamed the Christmas story, that we forget how shocking it truly is. The God of the universe becomes a frail baby. The Healer and Liberator of all becomes one of us intimately knowing our vulnerability and suffering.

The work I am doing has been very difficult. It is hard to witness suffering. But I know Christ is there working in me and through me, and in and through the guests that come to JOIN. And I know that Kingdom of God is at hand. Though we live in a world that is sick and unjust, God is with us. The light comes in the darkness. I choose to live in hope and live out that hope.

I hope that in the season you encounter the Light. I hope that you experience healing and restoration in the those place of darkness in your own life and that you may pursue healing and restoration in the places of darkness around you. I hope that the deepest longings of your heart may be filled - that the deepest thirst of your soul may be quenced with the Water of Life. May you celebrate hope coming into the world.

Peace and joy to you this Christmas!

Love,

Scott

P.S I would love to hear from you! You can write to me at 451 NW 1^st St Gresham, OR 97030, and I promise I will write back! 

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views, or intents of Jesuit Volunteers Corps Northwest.

Severe Weather

Last week our furnace broke, and my community spent two nights without heat right as severe weather hit the Portland area. The morning after the first night, Cecelia’s shampoo was frozen. None of us showered that morning. We all could see our breath. The second night, I slept in long underwear, a sweatshirt, with my beanie on, in my sleeping bag under another sleeping bag covered by two blankets. It was cold.

But I was inside. And it was only two nights.

That second night I spent without heat inside, outside it was 25 degrees with freezing rain and a steady 30 mph making it feel more like 15 degrees out. In the morning the ground and all east facing windows were covered in a solid sheet of ice.

People slept outside in this weather.

Starting with the evening of the 11^th, Portland experienced seven nights in a row that were officially designated as severe weather. When this designation is given, emergency efforts kick in to get as many people as possible who are outside into a warm space. Day shelter hours are extended, the Red Cross operates an emergency overnight shelter, churches open up, other overnight shelters add beds, and outreach workers and emergency personnel go out to connect with people.

Now I am going to return to the merits of this emergency coordination and response, but I must say it is outrageous that it is not seen as an emergency that every night, regardless of the weather, thousands of people are sleeping outside. On any given night in Multnomah County, nearly 2000 people are sleeping outside, in vehicles, in abandoned buildings or in other places not meant for human habitation. Including these unsheltered individuals, there are nearly 16,000 people in Multnomah County who fit the broadest definition of homelessness which includes those sleeping in emergency shelters, staying in transitional housing, couch surfing, or doubled up with family or friends¹. And this is just in one county, on one night. The number of people who experience homelessness throughout the length of the year is far higher. And these numbers don’t even begin to touch upon the number of people experiencing poverty who have to put a large share of their income toward housing thus becoming at greater risk of homelessness. How is it that homelessness has become normalized and accepted as a fact of life in American society? Why is it that we blame the most vulnerable and oppressed people of our society for their plight? Why do we not see the resilience, courage, and strength demonstrated by people who are facing some of the most difficult circumstances any human could face? Why is our compassion seasonal? How can we be apathetic when so many of our neighbors are out on the streets? When so many of our elders and veterans are without housing? When one in thirty American children are homeless?²  When economic injustice is so prevalent, warping the humanity of rich and poor alike?

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings” – Nelson Mandela³

Okay, stepping down off my soapbox. Despite the fact that I think much more should be done to end the injustice of homelessness in general, I was inspired by the response in Portland and at JOIN in particular during the severe weather.

It was all hands on deck at JOIN (where I serve) to do whatever it took to keep our friends warm and safe. Our day space is normally open 10am-3pm, but during the severe weather we began opening at 8:30am and closing at 4 or 5pm. This allowed people to transition between overnight shelters, meal providers and the day space without having to be outside for any extended period of time. Our outreach workers went out every night to find people and drive them to shelters or at least give them blankets, tarps, jackets, food and hand-warmers. The outreach workers were doing this on top of their day-to-day work connecting with people living on the streets and supporting their transition into permanent housing. The night I was sleeping in a cold house, my co-worker Diana was out in Gresham braving the cold and ice to reach as many people as she could.

As the severe weather continued, the outreach workers energies obviously were sapped, so other staff, volunteers and even board members stepped in to help with outreach. We also opened up as an overnight shelter last minute when one of the other emergency warming centers was unable to open Saturday night. I know that our executive director was working Saturday to get everything together to open overnight, helped out by going on outreach that night, and was back Sunday morning by 6am to help close the overnight shelter.

I am thankful for the opportunity to work alongside so many amazing people and at such a great organization. Compassion is not just 9-5 at JOIN. While it is imperative to practice self-care and build healthy boundaries to sustain the work we are doing, it is refreshing and moving to work among people who build authentic relationships with people, and who are willing to go give all they can give in support of our friends on the streets.

The last month has been mentally and emotionally exhausting for me (thus the absence of blog posts), but right now I am feeling re-inspired to keep serving and learning with my whole heart this year. I have been witness to much suffering and trauma in the lives of the friends I have made at JOIN recently. It is hard. But I am trying to intentionally practice self-care and self-compassion as I am privileged to be in the lives of people on the margins. And I believe that in going to these places of vulnerability and suffering, I am being made more human, I am being opened to the tender love of God that is present in all of life, in each life and especially present where life is most fragile.

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Here’s a news story which highlighted JOIN during the severe weather, and that includes interviews with my co-worker Quinn (who served in my position 7 years ago!) and my friend Pete.

JOIN also has been selected to be a part of Williamette Week’s Give! Guide. Please consider making a donation to JOIN under the community section to support our work connecting people on the streets to housing and providing critical basic services while people are in transition. https://giveguide.org/

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¹ “2013 Point-in-Time: Count of Homelessness in Portland/Multnomah County, Oregon” https://www.portlandoregon.gov/phb/article/451470

² “Study: 1 in 30 U.S. Kids Were Homeless During 2013”

http://time.com/3588844/child-homeless-study/

³ “Mandela’s Speech”

http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/extras/mandela.shtml

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views, or intents of Jesuit Volunteers Corps Northwest.

The Challenge Jar

Every week my house explores a new way to live out one of JVC NW’s four values through community challenges. Over dinner one night we all brainstormed practices that would stretch us to grow in simple living, community, spirituality and/or social & ecological justice. We collected all of our ideas in a jar and every month will draw four challenges. For each week’s challenge we spend time discussing why we are doing the challenge, what we hope to gain from it, and our expectations for what it entails (allowing for some personal choice on how to exactly live the challenge out given personal needs/comfort level). We also try to find time to reflect on how the challenge was for us, what we learned from it, and whether there are ways we can incorporate it our lives in an ongoing way. We have already had several challenges so far!

Our first challenge was to each share an article on social justice and read all of the articles that everyone contributed. I loved this challenge. It appealed to the part of me that misses college and intellectual stimulus. I enjoyed reading the articles themselves, and also found it interesting to see what types of articles each of us chose. We had a great discussion after we had all finished our reading.

Here are the articles, if you are interested!

"Helping, Fixing or Serving?"

"Rethinking Service" 

"Coal Pollution and the Fight for Environmental Justice"    

"The Life You Can Save" 

"Starfish Hurling and Community Service"

"The Tale of Two Schools" 

Our second challenge was not using utensils for a week. The idea behind the challenge was that there are many cultures that do not use utensils to eat, and that forgoing utensils was a way of simplifying. I did not like this challenge. Eating with my hands was fine, and it didn't bother me that much, but I didn't really buy in to the purpose of the challenge. If we were really trying to gain a cross-cultural perspective, I think we would have needed to eat meals from cultures that do not use utensils rather than just figuring out how to eat the same meals we would have had any way. I also did not really see it as a way of simplifying, but rather as giving something up just to give something up. I think the idea of the challenges should be to learn something new about yourself and one of the values not simply to do something challenging. That said, I think there was value in doing the no utensil challenge if for no other reason than that the rest of my community was doing it. I may have thought the challenge was pointless, but not everyone saw it that way, and I decided to participate in community life rather than just do what I wanted (or in this case didn't want to do).

Our third challenge was a 24 hour energy fast. From a Friday at 9pm till Saturday at 9pm, we did not use anything that could be turned on and off. This included warm water, cell phones, lights, stove top, etc. This was definitely challenging but also a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time together during the energy fast. Probably the highlight was playing giant jenga by candlelight in our living room Friday night. It was also very personally beneficial for me to turn my phone off for 24 hours. In a couple weeks, we will be having a weekend energy fast, and there also is a week-long energy fast currently in the challenge jar.

Our current challenge that we are wrapping up today is another article challenge but on spirituality this time. I am looking forward to discussing them all! Most of the articles were in paper but here are a video and a podcast that were shared if you want to check them out.

"What is the Purpose of Life?"

"The Wisdom of Tenderness" 

Next week’s challenge is a technology fast – no phone, internet, movies, etc. I’ll let you know how it goes!

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views, or intents of Jesuit Volunteers Corps Northwest.

Difficulties of Compassion

Last weekend we were introduced at St. Henry’s, the church that owns the house in which we live. It also happened to be the weekend of anointing the sick and elderly – perhaps they saw it as a fitting time to introduce the JVs. At the end of mass, we were all invited up and gave the standard where we’re from, where we are serving, etc. introduction. After the service, a man, whom I will call Steve, approached my housemate Erica and I, and said that he really enjoyed our introductions. He told us that he is very lonely and wants a companion to have dinner with him, and he said we sounded like just the people he needs.

In my mind I had two immediate reactions. One, I felt compassion for this man opening up himself and calling out for love in front of me. I wanted to be there for him. But I also felt a desire to disengage and wished that he had never approached me. I thought Steve didn’t really understand what a JV year looks like, I am not really in a position to help him, and I don’t want to deal with this.

Before we could continue speaking with Steve, we got drawn out of the conversation and swept off to a newcomer’s dinner. I didn’t see anyone invite Steve.

But it became apparent that Steve was familiar with the church, and he made his way over to the dinner across the street. It also soon seemed apparent to me that the church was familiar with him, but he was largely ignored.

I invited Steve to sit next to me at our dinner table and tried to offer a listening ear. He proceeded to pour out his story to me; it was hard to hear. Over the course of his life, Steve has lived in multiple group homes, and he feels that where he currently stays no one likes him. He does not enjoy the activities they put on and does not really have friends there. He also told me that his parents have passed away, and he doesn’t have any family. I had a hard time understanding his exact relationship with St. Henry’s, but it was clear that he does attend there at least sometimes. He worries about what people think about him due to the disabilities he has. Some people ignore him because they can’t understand his speech. All in all, it seemed to me, he was profoundly lonely.

He gave me his phone number to call him so that we could have dinner together. I did not say yes to this, but I did not really say no either. I did not know how. Either way, it seemed to me that I was going to end up as another person who hurt him.

I know I do not have the time and emotional capacity to reach out to him and be his friend. I would burnout. But by not doing so, I would be leaving him alone.

After some time talking with Steve, someone from the church asked if I needed a break from the conversation while I was up getting food. I knew by saying yes, I would basically be saying no to Steve. I said yes. I felt completely drained and on the verge of tears, so I did not know if I could continue on the conversation. But I wonder how it felt to Steve to see me come back to the table and take another seat not by him.

When most people finished eating, different church members share about their various ministries. During one woman’s brief presentation, she paused, and it seem a natural moment to ask a question. Steve raised his hand, and she saw him out of the corner of her eye. It looked like she was turning to call on him, but when she saw who it was she just said “no!” as if rebuking a child.

To me it seemed Steve was perceived as a nuisance and a burden. And this is at a church that is relatively socially active. They operate a food pantry two days a week, and one day a week open up their gym as a day space and serve a hot meal. They have a peace and justice committee. They have a house that they rent out to JVC NW, and they have treated us kindly. And maybe there is more going on that I did not see, and they are doing something with Steve, but it was a saddening dinner.

I left the church angry. I shook hands with Steve goodbye, but I left quickly not really giving him a chance to speak because I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to do something, but then I also did not want to do something, or felt that I couldn’t do anything. I was frustrated with myself, with the church, and with society. There are so many lonely people out there.

I returned to our house, silent and stewing inside. When I opened up with Erica about how upset I was, the tears started coming. Going on a walk to calm down, I wrestled with this question:

How do live in the self-giving, compassionate way of the cross while also practice self-care and maintaining personal well-being?

In my mind, I know that this question creates a false dichotomy because being compassionate with yourself flows into greater compassion with others over time. But the question is profoundly difficult on a heart level, when real life happens and you are confronted with the world’s pain and your own limitations.

Taking the question out of the abstract and applying it, the question becomes: do I call Steve back or not?

On the one hand, I have a deeply held commitment to pursuing social justice through relationships and love. And to be in relationship with someone, to love someone, requires opening up one’s self to the risk of being changed and the risk of being hurt. It requires energy and time and your whole self. Pursuing justice through mutual relationships cannot be placed into a neatly sealed box called work and separated from the rest of your life.

On the other hand, I am finite. I cannot save anyone. If I am not well, don’t take care of myself, and don’t have boundaries, then I will not be able to live a life of such love and relationship at all. I will develop compassion fatigue and burnout. Even Jesus went away to pray in solitude. He did not heal everyone he encountered, and he avoided the crowds at times.

I did not call Steve.

But I am hoping to not forget him. It would be easier in some ways to push him out of my mind, but that doesn’t feel satisfactory. I should by his situation and the inadequacy of my response, the church’s response and society’s response. I will not live in shame, but I will live in the hope that things ought to and will be better. Living with such hope necessitates not accepting the current arrangement of things. I want to grow in compassion and go to the places of pain and sorrow which are frustrating and anger inducing. I believe that in those places I not only have something to offer, but I have much to receive. It is in those places in which I may open up to give and receive love in a new way. Going to places of inhumanity, and allowing myself to be upset rather than turning a blind eye or rationalizing it away, I may become more human.

As I reflected more this last week, I also realized that there were more possibilities that my compassion could have led me to then remembering Steve and calling him or remember him or not calling him. I was operating under a very limiting equation of what I could do versus what I could not do. But I am not the body of Christ, rather we, the people of God empowered by the Holy Spirit, are the body of Christ. Thinking in terms of “we” creates new possibilities of compassionate response to the world’s pain.

It is not sustainable for me to be Steve’s friend, but what if I had tried to introduce him to other members of the church who were at the dinner and could be more constant in his life? What if I had been an advocate speaking up about how he was ignored and mistreated? What if I had invited my housemates into the conversation I was having with him so there compassion and creativity could have been brought into the situation?

For now, all I know to do is to pray. Pray that people might come into his life in a way that I could not, pray that God’s Spirit might comfort and we with him. And perhaps in praying, I might become a person of greater openness and love and inviting others into the God’s outworking of justice in the world. 

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views or intents of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest.

Why I am Becoming Vegetarian

Side note: Sorry this blog has been so long neglected! I am hoping to blog more consistently as a practice of writing and reflection.

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I love meat. Red meat, poultry, fish, game - all of it is delicious. Growing up meat was often at the center of my family's meals. I have enjoyed attending countless BBQs. The day after my last day of high school track, my friends and I had a "bacon party" which consisted solely of consuming a scary amount of bacon, burgers and meatballs. This was so enjoyable that we had another bacon party later that summer. I have had a dream since high school of roasting a whole pig in my backyard. You get the idea.

But now I am deciding to give it all up. Why?

Well, I am living with two people who are vegetarians and one person who is vegan in a city that may be the vegetarian capital of America during a year of service that includes seeking to live out the values of simple living and ecological justice. I have known for a long time that there are compelling reasons to forgo meat, but I have never committed to it. Now it seems hard not to. I am immersed in an environment which has catalyzed and supported my efforts to more fully align my practices with my values. I am choosing to eat a plant-centered diet because it is more ecologically just, frugal, ethical, and healthy.

I would like to note from the start that I don't see anything inherently wrong with eating meat or other animal products. In my view, there is not anything necessarily wrong with killing an animal for food; it is simply a part of how God's good creation runs. However, the question for me is not whether eating meat is allowed in principle but whether in practice it is beneficial on a personal and societal level. I believe that all of our actions and habits are value-laden and formative. What values does my consumption of meat reflect (and generate)? How might my consumption of meat impact my relationship with other people and the earth? When I reflect on these questions, it seems to me that forgoing meat is a more beneficial way to live.

Becoming a vegetarian is a way to live more lightly on the earth. The production and transportation. of meat requires a significantly greater amount of water and energy as compared to growing the same amount of food. In my mind, it is pretty clear by now that the way we humans (especially in America) are living is not sustainable and our relationship with the earth is seriously out of whack. Giving up meat for me is a way to become a better steward. And it's not only about saving mother nature; climate change disproportionately affects the lives of the poor. And when malnutrition is still so prevalent it seems that increasing my consciousness of my food consumption and examining larger food systems can only be a good thing.

I am also motivated by the desire to live a simpler life. Meat is expensive! While produce is expensive as well, there are ways to eat a plant centered diet that is extremely affordable and still delicious. My house of six has a shared budget of $115 for food each week, and we have come in under budget every week. One week we spent under $50 on food for the whole week! Intentionally forgoing meat also gives cause for examining what I truly need versus what I simply want.

On top of this, the meat industry is marked by a continuing history of animal cruelty. While I have been generally aware of this for some time, I never really felt too bothered by it, but I think that is only because I chose to not be bothered by it and rationalize it. While I said I don't see anything wrong with killing animals for food, the factory system that is set-up to raise and kill animals seems to me at the very least to be morally dubious.

Finally, a vegetarian diet can be more nutritious. There must be an emphasis on the 'can' because a vegetarian diet can also be very unhealthy. Cutting out red meat in particular can be beneficial, and hopefully eating a plant centered diet will lead me to be more conscious about food choices in general.

I hope that with intention and reflection becoming vegetarian will help me to more fully live out the values that are guiding my year of service. The reason that I am writing this blog post is to contemplate the action that I am taking so that it may be not only about not eating meat but also shape who I am becoming and the way I am in the world.

Of course, there are plenty of alternative practices to becoming a more just, healthy, frugal person in this area than giving up meat entirely. One could reduce one's consumption of meat by being a six days a week vegetarian, or if meat is a larger part of one's diet starting with something like meatless Mondays. One could also cut out all red meat but still eat other meats, or simply reduce portion size. Another option would be to only eat meat that one knows is raised ethically. I'm sure there are other ideas out there as well.

I do have at least one area where I will compromise: If it would be inhospitable or culturally insensitive to not eat something that contains meat, then I would eat it.

And I am still eating dairy and eggs - that'd be real hard for me to give up! (So much respect to all the vegans out there). I'm not sure about fish yet. Still pondering that one.

Whether this is a forever commitment or not, I have no idea. I realize changing life circumstances can change a lot of things. But at the very least I will stick with it through my year of service. With this blog post there is no turning back on that.

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The contents of this page, and all links appearing on this page, do not represent the positions, views or intents of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest

Life Update

It’s been nearly three weeks since I headed south for a yearlong adventure in Oregon. Life has been so full!

On August 4^th, I caught the Greyhound in Ellensburg at 4:30 in the morning and started on my way down to Portland and eventually to Camp Adams for orientation. Everyone who is doing JVC NW starts at Orientation (or “O”). There are nearly 150 JVs serving in over 20 communities throughout the NW. It was overwhelming meeting so many new people, and at first it felt like welcome week but instead of asking everyone what their major is, you ask them what their service placement is. There are JVs from all across the country as well as some JVs from abroad.  

Each day of orientation was themed around one of the four JVC NW values: simple living, community, spirituality, social justice. Each day had music, speakers, breakout sessions, time in community, and all the information we will need for the year, as well free time and fun activities. Square dancing was a highlight.

I appreciated the space that was given for reflection at orientation. I needed that time to both look back and look ahead as I enter this new year. In a lot of way I don’t really feel ready for the year. How college ended was rather disorienting and opened up a lot in me – who am I? Where is God? How do I want to be in relationship with friends and family? What is most important in life? Death was so present at the start of this summer. Within what that brought up in me, one thing I found was a re-realization of how much I am loved and how much I love so many people and my community. But then I am graduating college and taking off for a life with many new people and new community. As much as I am glad to have finished undergrad, part of me wishes that there was another autumn start of school to come back to.

But I do feel that I am in a good place, the right place for me right now.

Life in community has been going very well so far. After a week of orientation, we headed to our house in Gresham (aka Greshvegas, or Greshlehem, or the house that zen built). It’s huge! Nine bedrooms for six of us. We’ve been getting to know each other better day by day, and I think all of our personalities are starting to come out more – at first we were all very quiet. We’ve watched many movies (several Robin Williams films, in memory), explored downtown Portland, picked blackberries, finished a puzzle, dumpster dived (dove?) and enjoyed a night at Gresham’s local watering hole, the Gresham Inn. Six nights a week a pair of us will cook dinner for the whole house. I love sharing meals together – to eat and be with each other is truly such a spiritual act, and it’s these small practices that form who we are. We also share household responsibilities and a community account for housing, utilities, and food expenses. One night a week we gather for spirituality night which allows to get to know each other on a deeper level. It’s really all so counter-cultural – to live life together, mutually responsible with one another – and it has/will have its share of difficulties, but I am loving it and know I will grow in community.

I started work at JOIN as the new immersion coordinator. The first three days were hard and a bit intimidating, but I am starting to get into more of a rhythm. So far, I've mostly been working in the day shelter space, called “the House.” Friends of JOIN can come to the House during the day to have a place to be, get some food, take a shower, use a computer, check their mail, and access other services. The House runs on a barter system where guests can do chores in the space to earn points that are used to on services – allowing people the opportunity to work for services provided dignity. The House is intended to be a community where guests, volunteers and staff collaboratively run the space and are in mutual relationship. Of course, there is always going to be a power differential, and limited resources and security concerns prevent the full realization of this ideal, but nevertheless it has a huge impact. JOIN seeks to be relationship-based rather and rules-based and operate from a place of trust rather than fear or control. Guests are to be friends rather than clients. With this comes a whole host of challenges, but it is beautiful and welcome change from other social service environments I have been in.

I have also been impressed so far with how JOIN lives out its values not only in its social work but also as an organization. There is a real sense of community and collaboration. It very non-hierarchical and egalitarian. I have felt very welcomed. My role in the House is definitely going to stretch and challenge me, but it seems there a lot of support and attention so that those challenges become places of learning and growth. I’ve also already signed up for a 60-mile relay race with the executive and associated directors.

I think that’s it for now. Hopefully there will be more blog posts to come, soon!

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*The content of this blog is solely that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of JVC NW*