Robert Lupton, author of Compassion, Justice, & the Christian Life, points out:
"The old adage goes: 'Feed a man a fish and he'll eat for a day', teach him to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime."
Added 07/18/07: My point in including this "old adage" was to highlight one of Robert Lupton's profound points about what it means to serve people in a blighted neighborhoods or people that are maybe down on circumstances (homeless). Feeding a man a fish can be equated to a betterment program, whereas as teaching a man to fish is synonymous with a developmental program. I can't fully unpack all of that right now, but I will say that I am challenged to think about how I can walk out in a developmental paradigm that bestows respect to people and increases a sense of taking personal responsbility for life and choices in contrast to a program that has less lasting results. This is a big thought for me.
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Website:
www.socksandgloves.org
Mail:
Socks & Gloves
1809 S Street Suite 101-359
Sacramento CA 95811
Email:
info [at] socksandgloves [dot] org
mikeandkellie [at] socksandgloves [dot] org
ann [at] socksandgloves [dot] org
ryan [at] socksandgloves [dot] org
Phone:
Mike & Kellie 916-337-7817
Ryan 916-595-3735
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16 comments:
Build a man a fire and you'll keep him warm for one night; light a man on fire and you'll keep him warm for the rest of his life.
Nice (whoever you are).
They say you can lead a horse to water, but you can't
make him drink. But I say, you can salt the oats.
You can look at a scar and see hurt, or
you can look at a scar and see healing.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community …
and as long as I live,
it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.
Let us not underestimate how hard it is to listen and to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely and broken. But … our spontaneous response … is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it. As busy, active, relevant people we want to [make] a real contribution. This means … doing something to show that our presence makes a difference. And so we ignore our greatest gift, which is our ability to be there, to listen and to enter into solidarity with those who suffer.
The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the
most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be
carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender
to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is
to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation in violence.
The frenzy of the activist neutralizes one’s work for peace.
It destroys the fruitfulness of one’s work, because it kills the root
of inner wisdom, which makes work fruitful.
Anonymous says: "to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation in violence."
This doesn't make any sense. I don't know the reason why the comment is posted really. Sure, in the midst of being active in really trying to help people, it is easy to lose track of peace, but inaction is a dysmal place to live. It is maybe easier to cure too much work than to cure complacency. I would say that it is much better to try to do something than nothing- that's for sure.
If you'd like to elaborate on your point regarding violence, please do so because I don't get what you are saying at all. Thanks.
Actually, The quote is from a very famous writer and the thought process challenges me. How about you?
Thomas Merton was born in Prades, France, to artists, Ruth and Owen Merton. His early years were spent in the south of France; later, he went to private school in England and then to Cambridge. Both of his parents were deceased by the time Merton was a young teen and he eventually moved to his grandparents' home in the United States to finish his education at Columbia University in New York City. While a student there, he completed a thesis on William Blake who was to remain a lifelong influence on Merton's thought and writings.
But Merton's active social and political conscience was also informed by his conversion to Christianity and Catholicism in his early twenties. He worked for a time at Friendship House under the mentorship of Catherine Doherty and then began to sense a vocation in the priesthood. In December 1941, he resigned his teaching post at Bonaventure College, Olean, NY, and journeyed to the Abbey of Gethsemani, near Louisville, Kentucky. There, Merton undertook the life of a scholar and man of letters, in addition to his formation as a Cistercian monk.
The thoroughly secular man was about to undertake a lifelong spiritual journey into monasticism and the pursuit of his own spirituality. The more than 50 books, 2000 poems, and numerous essays, reviews, and lectures that have been recorded and published, now form the canon of Merton's writings. His importance as a writer in the American literary tradition is becoming clear. His influence as a religious thinker and social critic is taking its place alongside such luminaries as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Flannery O'Connor, and Martin Luther King. His explorations of the religions of the east initiated Merton's entrance into inter-religious dialogue that puts him in the pioneering forefront of worldwide ecumenical movements. Merton died suddenly, electrocuted by a malfunctioning fan, while he was attending his first international monastic conference near Bangkok, Thailand, in 1968.
The original quote actually sounded like something that Merton would write. I have read little of him, but some. I would really have to see the context of the quotes in order to truly evaulate what is being said. The part I don't understand is the concept of "violence" and how it relates to the original post / discussion at hand. It seems like random quotes are cut and pasted from Wikipedia or some other resource and then put up as comments on the blog. How does it challenge you? And who are you anyway? :)
I am a anonymous blogger and I prefer to stay that way. I found your blog and have now made it my goal to challenge your "stellar point"
On the "violence" statement from that Merton guy it does apply to your statement.
American Heritage Dictionary
vi·o·lence;
damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration.
Maybe he dont want to learn to fish maybe he just wants your free stuff so he can spend his recycle money on a 40 ounce and you cant judge him for that or everything you do has no meaning.
Jesus said "Love you neighbor as yourself"
I dont think Jesus and any but to add to that statement he made.
Sometimes you just gotta love people with no agenda but LOVE!
I see. This "stellar point" came from a very potent book that I just finished and referenced in the original post. To fully get the context of where the fishing analogy is coming, it may be helpful to pick up the book at some point because from what you are saying and what I am saying, there is a clear disconnect because you have not read the book. I will try to unpack a few things below though, however.
I agree with you in that for those who claim to follow Jesus, that the agenda should be to love. However, the question must be asked: What is most loving? Is it most loving to enable a lifestyle of homelessness (which is not glamorous and not chosen by the majority of people on the streets) by not focusing on really challenging people to break the cycle of their brokeness and poverty and live to their full potential? Our metality in doing what we do is to offer assistance with deep love, and we have our eyes on something bigger too... transformation. Look, most people we may never even get to have a great conversation and to see real breakthough in people's lives, but if they are warmer and well fed, we have done something beautiful. But there will be some that we get to befriend (a mutally respectful relationship where possible is what we are after... You can read through our website at www.socksandgloves.com for more of that vibe).
It is a terrible thing for most people to be out on the streets. Handouts surely "minister" to people so to speak, but over time they may not be utlimately beneficial if that is all they are.
The book I referenced had some key insights. The author explained, by experience, that over time how their closet "ministry" did not produce any lasting results, nor did the "food pantry" deal they had going on. These handouts did nothing to produce personal responsibility in the receipients and challenge them to personal resonsibility. These things weren't bad per se because people were fed and clothed. I see Jesus doing that and it is a wonderful thing. But in thinking long term and with the big picture, it is potent and necessary in our help for others to analayze the real fruit of our labor and actions. First of all, we must ask ourselves if the service we are providing is really about the people we are serving or us. If it is about us, then it will feel good most likely and it may have effectiveness or it may not. If it is about others, it may or may not feel good, but chances are that the focus will be on the development of the person rather than a simple temporary handout (a mere "betterment program" as the author puts it. This type of program scrapes the surface of people's lives and brings some improvement, but ultimately does not truly develop the people in terms of true empowerment to make better choices and live in our society). You see, to bring lasting change, we must help people to make their own choices, be responsible... This is empowerment and it takes tremendous work and time and effort and tears. And this is something to go after tenaciously.
Jesus had a very specific purpose and mission and so I think it is okay for others to do the same, especially for those who call themselves his followers. Being spiritual or empathetic does not mean that we are unplanned or unfocused or unwilling to draw lines and really live out a vision and specific strategy. This is not a classic program over people mentality, but one that is being refined and one that is seeking to have people really be first.
Is it most loving to give someone money who is on the streets? That is what each person needs to decide. For me, I do not give out money often, but only ocassionally. And I will never give out money to someone who is glazed over or clearly on drugs. That is an unwise use of money in my opinion and it certainly does nothing to truly develop the recipient but only "better" them in the moment (of course in thinking that the person really bought food instead of meth).
Here is the deal ultimately to sum things up: We would never force someone to learn to fish. You see, not everyone wants to, and you couldn't force someone if you tried. It would not only be unethical, but it would be a waste of time and utterly disrespectful. There is a bible narrative where Jesus looks at a lame man and asks him the question, "do you want to be well?" This is a crucial question for others to ask of themselves. Not everyone wants to then "learn how to fish" (do life on their own, break the patterns of poverty and break through classist barriers, deal with addictions, stop running in life...). This is a choice, and as a strategy long term and throughout life, I want to be a person who offers people this choice.
The truth is that most people on the streets are running from something. The most noble thing that we can do then is love people, build relationship, and in the context of this loving relationship, speak to issues that arise and be able to point others toward healing, toward resources within the local community, deal with the issues they are running from, etc....
Your statement of violence being defined as "damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration" really does not apply here because it has nothing to do with what we are about and really the vibe we give off.
I invite you to come along with us one of these days when we go out and about. We can love together and you can see what we mean when we say "love" also.
Bottom line: People make their own choices and we can't and won't change that, but we will offer hope of better choices for sure. That sounds like love to me. Does it to you?
What do you think it means to "love your neighbor as yourself" in the context of loving homeless people?
Do you understand a bit better what the point of the "old addage" is that I originally posted about? For you it seems to conjur up the idea that we are out to manipulate people and change them and make others conform to what we think is best, but that's not what it is about. People on the streets have often times been beaten down and it is incredibly sad to see, especially for me to hear story after story about how these Dads out there on the streets have made terrible decisions often times, they don't see their kids anymore, they have no respect for themselves, and they hardly have an ounce of dignity. This is such a complex problem. And if we are to call forth men out of situations like this, they must choose. Gosh, the process of true rehabilitation is so complex and I won't begin to arrogantly sound like I have all the answers. I do know that it is our duty to help our fellow man and so offering hope of immediate needs is wonderful.... But if we can learn to go deeper and offer something more long lasting.... that is best.
In closing, here is a little poem from the book I read that incapsulates some of my thoughts here as well as the "old adage":
Go to the people
Live among them
Learn from them
Love them
Start with what they know
Build on what they have
But of the best leaders
When their task is done
The people will remark
"We have done it ourselves"
Ryan....Maybe you should be writing books....... Way to tell it!
Anonymous, where'd you go? I hope that my "essay" that I wrote came across as simply humble and explanatory and that it helped to give a good sense of what we are up to. Let me know if you have any further thoughts. Thanks.
After your "essay" I understand you much better. I was wrong about you. sorry!
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