Who Are The People In Your Neighbourhood?

Have you ever done something not overly good for you and NOT QUITE learned your lesson from it? I mean you thought you learned your lesson, you thought you'd never be in that situation again, but sure enough...round it comes again, and you look back and say "OH...THAT was the lesson I was supposed to learn!!"

I'll explain more.

At the moment I'm doing my Pre-College Course for Salvation Army Officer Training next year. It's actually not a bad little course (STACKS of reading though!!) as it gets you to really look back on some situations that have happened in your life, that have shaped you into the person you are today, and reflect upon them.

It's come at a really timely stage for me (don't they always) as the very first reflection was about "way closing". In the exercise you are to think about times in your life that the "way" has closed for you, no matter how easy or painful it was, and what you learned from that about yourself.

For me, I immediately started to think of some of the stuff that's happened in the last 2 months, and how that has reflected back on some stuff that happened a couple of years ago. I remember being really down a few years back, and an incredibly wise woman of God saying to me "Sarah, I believe you are unhappy because you are not with your people!" We talked a little more about that, and I kind of understood what she meant (or so I thought). Essentially, I was working with some upper-working/middle-class Christians, and was trying to impart my love and passion for working with homeless, broken & marginalized people onto them. I was pouring all my efforts, somewhat fruitlessly at times, on trying to get THEM to see what an amazing gift it is when you can put aside what the world deems as success, and meet people who are in need of love & friendship right where they are at - as their equal, not as their "worker" or the likes. For some, they really got it, but I was so focussed on the few that didn't, that I was burning out fast!! So when I was told that I wasn't with "my people", I knew she was right.

It took a little while, but I ended up back working with homeless & marginalized people, and I was once again, happy and inspired. So inspired, I returned to working with The Salvation Army, again in an upper-working/middle class area, thinking that all my issues before would be different now because there are broken people in every community. And there are broken people in every community. But again, I started getting that inner-frustration that comes when you are trying and trying and trying to make things happen, and they're just not. I kept telling myself that it was all par for the course, and to "suck it up", and deal with it. But I was trying to fit a square peg (me) into a round hole (my job). I was trying to become the super-kids worker, the one that was able to do everything and who loves it all and is happy all the time. But deep inside, my heart was tugging me back to issues of justice, to being back with "my people".

This past two weeks, I've finally learned my lesson. The lesson is that I'm genuinely happier when I'm in a place where I'm meeting with people who are from all walks of life, but mostly, I'm at my happiest when I get to journey with people for whom life is really tough. I've started working at Bellerine Street, which is The Salvation Army's material aid centre in Geelong. I'm loving getting to know some of the people that come in, and I'm loving being able to chat with people and learn more about their journey, as well as sharing some of mine.

Last Sunday night, I went to Northside Salvos, and can I just tell you, I felt so... inspired afterwards. I had a great chat with a woman who was sharing how tough life has been for her, who has battled abuse and addiction for most of her precious life. We were chatting about the honesty of the streets, and how we constantly crave that genuine relationship, where people are upfront about their stuff. Where if they like you, you know it, and if they don't... you know it! We shared quite a bit that night, and it was great to be able just be in that space again.

Please don't get me wrong - when I talk about being with "my people" I'm not trying to own or patronize them in any way. I don't think I can fix them...if anything they fix me. It's genuinely easy for me to sit in the brokenness. Mostly, because I can't hide from my brokenness in the midst of it. Because when I sit with someone who's opening up their heart and life to me, warts and all, there is a beauty in the honesty. Because there is hope in the midst of hopelessness. But mainly, because I meet Jesus there. In the brokenness, in the pain, in the tears, but mostly, in the laughter and the joy that comes with genuine relationship. What a gift I get given each time.

Please don't read that I have any problem with people who struggle with living or ministering in the "marginalized" communities (man I wish there was a different word to use), or who believe their calling is to the middle class. I'm just simply saying that for me... when I read "the Word became flesh and blood moved into the neighbourhood"(John 1:14), I know that my neighbourhood is not the middle class.

I have learned my lesson - the people in my neighbourhood, the neighbourhood I want to live in - the neighbourhood I'm called to live in, created to live in - is filled with homeless people, beggars, abuse victims, the mentally ill, the hungry but mostly people who are broken and clinging to hope - just like me! :)