Generosity & Compassion

Tattoos on the Heart – Blog 3

It had been a particularly hard winter and the number of people experiencing homelessness was increasing. This was before Seeds of Hope had worked with the City of Biddeford to stay open overnight as a warming center. When the temperatures were expected to get into life-threatening conditions, we would ask each of our neighbors (those we serve) if they had a place to stay. Although funds were tight back then, if needed we could occasionally pay for a night or 2 in a motel. Unfortunately, that was getting harder to do because some motels had gotten burned with inappropriate behavior of their customers and were very selective about who they would accept.

With predictions of extremely dangerous temperatures this specific night, we went table to table asking each individual if they had a place to stay. Thankfully most did. At the last table I visited I recognized a man and woman who weren’t together but just ended up sitting across from each other. When I asked them the question, she indicated that she did have a place. He did not. We spent time brainstorming options but were coming up empty. She then spoke up and said to him, “You know I don’t like you very much, but you can stay on my couch tonight. No one should be outside tonight.” He nodded appreciatively.

This interaction was tattooed on my heart. This woman’s compassion and willingness to take a chance and “welcome the stranger” was so powerful. She knew him well enough to know she wasn’t putting herself in danger and was willing to tolerate whatever there was about him she didn’t like to ensure he would be safe that night.

One of the things we saw over and over again at Seeds of Hope was the extraordinary generosity of those who had very little. They would share experiences of places in town that were helpful and those to avoid. They knew way more than we did about navigating the complex and often soul crushing network of social services, especially those which were government run. It often seemed that the systems were designed to say “No” and to keep people where they were in their struggle rather than “This is how we can help.” We often tried to run interference but those who had been through it were just as effective, and many times more so.

In an upcoming blog I will focus on my list of the Myths of Poverty, but I will mention this one here. We often hear in the media and other places that those who struggle on the margins of society have a sense of entitlement when seeking help. While this may be true in a few instances, the overwhelming majority of those we served regularly demonstrated gratitude toward us and each other and generosity in assisting wherever they could.

My time as Executive Director of Seeds of Hope taught me so much about compassion, generosity, humility, dignity, and the mandate to those of us who serve to communicate every chance we get that each person we encounter is the most important person at that moment because they are precious children of God. This is especially critical when working with those who are frequently on the receiving end of ridicule, hostility, and rejection. Sometimes we ask ourselves, “What difference can I make. I’m just one person.” But the giving of one’s time, attention and affirmation are priceless.