Living Peaceably

"You must first have peace in your own soul before you can make peace between other people. Peaceable people accomplish more good than learned people do. Those who are passionate often can turn good into evil and readily believe the worst. But those who are honest and peaceful turn all things to good and are suspicious of no one. ... It is no test of virtue to be on good terms with easy-going people, for they are always well liked. And, of course, all of us want to live in peace and prefer those who agree with us. But the real test of virtue and deserving of praise is to live at peace with the perverse, or the aggressive and those who contradict us, for this needs a great grace. ... in this mortal life, our peace consists in the humble bearing of suffering and contradictions, not in being free of them, for we cannot live in this world without adversity. Those who can best suffer will enjoy the most peace, for such persons are masters of themselves, lords of the world, with Christ for their friend, and heaven as their reward."

— Thomas á Kempis, Imitation of Christ, p. 72-73

The benefits of prayer

Prayer brings our mind into the brightness of divine light, and exposes our will to the warmth of divine love. Nothing else can so purge our mind from its ignorance, and our will from its depraved affections. It is a blessed fountain which, as it flows, revives our good desires and causes them to bring forth fruit, washes away the stains of infirmity from our soul, and calms the passions of our hearts."

— St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life. p. 61

A morning with a homeless man

A Morning at Project Connect

About 10 times a year the Valley of the Sun United Way organizes an event called Project Connect that brings together agencies whose mission it is to bring services to the homeless.

Having never attended this event, I was eager to attend.

This month's Project Connect was held at Calvary Community Church, a perfect facility for an event such as this. Large rooms for serving meals, more than adequate other rooms for agencies such as Homeless ID Project (Birth Certificates), St. Joseph the Worker (resume writing and job searches), Circle the City (medical assistance for the homeless), Motor Vehicle Department (state Identification and driver’s licenses), Community Bridges (Case management/referrals to services), Department of Economic Security for food stamps and Arizona Health Care Containment System (AHCCCS,) which is Arizona’s Medicare program.

Calvary Community Church offers a very large hallway which made room for many agencies to staff a table for information for attendees. Talking to representatives from Basic Mission, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Point Man Ministries, A New Leaf, Valle del Sol and the Associate Pastor of Calvary Community Church reaped valuable resources for me to give to those I meet at the Human Service Campus. 

While I am visiting one of the booths, a young man, Raul, walks up. “I am looking for a voucher so I can get a state id.” I offer to take him to the Homeless ID Project who help the homeless who have lost their Identification to replace their paperwork. Upon learning from the folks at the Homeless I D Project that he can get his state identification replaced for free today at the Motor Vehicle Department  (MVD) room. 

We walk over to the MVD room and are informed that they do not have their internet up yet. “Maye 20 minutes.” The line is not very long so we stand in line. During our wait we visit. The conversation is difficult follow as Raul seems to have some issues with focusing his thoughts. I figure out he usually sleeps in a park but he also can sleep at his mother’s house. “I am the fourth boy.” He shares a little bit of his family life, however, like many homeless people he is guarded about his personal information. Eventually we get into the room where the MVD is giving out state drivers’ licenses and state identification cards. Raul decides he wants to replace his driver’s license instead of getting a state identification card. The process is painless and speedy.

Raul and I walk around and find a very large room where there are many clothes. Raul looks for some t-shirts. He finds a long-sleeve shirt that matches the shirt the one is wearing. 

Raul and I go outside. We get a water and Raul decides he wants to get a shower. I wander back into the church and visit with some more of the various agencies. 

I notice there is a Department of Economic Security (DES) room and I wonder if Raul has an AHCCCS card and would be interested in food stamps. I go back to where I left him standing in line for a shower provided by a local church that has a mobile shower. Raul has not lined up for the shower. I ask him if he has an AHCCCS card. “No.” I lead him to the DES location. As we stand at the door, Raul explains why he cannot get the state insurance health plan because “it is all tied to a federal thing and then they will find you.” It soon appears that Raul suffers from either delusional thinking or paranoia. Eventually we leave the DES room and part ways. Raul thanks me for my patience with him. “I know you care.” 

Ronald Friesen © 2018                                                                                                                          

Can we say too much?

"We must cultivate that sacred silence which makes people remember the words of Jesus: See how they love one another. How often we find ourselves speaking of the faults of another. How often our conversation is about someone who is not present. Yet see the compassion of Christ toward Judas, the man who received so much love yet betrayed his own master. But the master kept the sacred silence and did not betray Judas. Jesus could have easily spoken in public—as we often do—telling the hidden intentions and deeds of Judas to others. But he didn’t. Instead, he showed mercy and charity. Rather than condemning Judas, he called him his friend."

— St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Thirsting for God: Mother Teresa, p. 41

Bible Study with the Homeless I

Today (Monday, April 16, 2018), I held the regular weekly Bible study in the newly dedicated Rev. Q. Gerald Roseberry Conference Room.

Sometimes we become concerned by numbers and numbers do represent a level of impact, however, today’s Bible Study with three men represented the depth of Biblical understanding and commitment to Christian discipleship among those who use the Human Service Campus as a launching pad to reversing their current status.

Two of the men came to the study prepared with their Bibles. One had a Gideon’s New Testament so he asked for a Bible with both testaments before he left. Another man carries a Bible with him everywhere he goes and is often sitting in the day room of the Lodestar Day Resource Center reading his Bible.

We reviewed the verses from the message on worry shared by Chaplain Bill on Sunday morning. As we discussed the verses, the men quoted other Bible verses about God’s care and provision for us when we are given to worry about our lives. They also shared experiences about God’s provision in their lives. Stories of struggles and victories were also told.

We ended our time with prayer items. I asked them to share first and offered a prayer for each man. One of the men asked me if I had something they could pray for me. I shared some of my needs. This is how a community of faith is built.

Ronald Friesen © 2018

Are you listening?

"I worry some of you still have not really met Jesus—one to one—you and Jesus alone. We may spend time in the chapel—but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love? Do you really know the living Jesus—not from books but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you? Ask for the grace; He is longing to give it. Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not be able to hear Him saying 'I Thirst' in the hearts of the poor. Never give up this daily intimate contact with Jesus as the real living person—not just the idea."

— Saint Mother Teresa, Manual for Eucharistic Adoration. p.129-30