It has been a little while since I last wrote a blog. I think I’m running out of things to say, perhaps hitting the proverbial wall, which is probably natural in February at the midpoint of the JVC year.
This year so far has been simultaneously a blessing and a struggle filled with ups and downs. At times it’s easy for me to walk the streets of Oakland and wonder how things could be any worse and question whether I’m making any difference at all. This year hasn’t necessarily filled me with great optimism that things in Oakland will improve any time soon, but last Friday’s Homeless Court session held here at SVdP was a reaffirmation that my work here is meaningful. The thing I especially like about Homeless Court is that Judge Gordon Baranco isn’t looking for a grand apology or clients to grovel, only that they exhibit progress and a sincere understanding that it’s a one time chance to move forward with a clean slate.
As always my favorite part of the process is witnessing the spectrum of reactions the clients have after their charges and fines are dismissed, it ranges from one woman who fought back tears as she hugged her two-year-old son to the 21-year-old guy whose grin stretched from ear-to-ear as he bragged to me that his $5,000 in fines dismissed had been the most of anyone all day.
“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Another week at SVdP.
This week has been cold and a little wet and I’ve felt slightly under the weather, so I’ll keep this post short.
Yesterday we had over 40 participants in the Homeless Court come to St. Vincent de Paul to meet with public defender Diane Bellas in preparation for court this coming Friday. Essentially everyone was told to show up at 9:30 in the morning and it was a first come first serve process, so for some it was a very long day of waiting. But in general, all of the clients were extremely patient and thankful to be a part of the program. It was also a great chance to talk with the clients and hear their stories. Many told me about their past jail experiences, drug addiction, divorces, children and what ultimately led many of them to recovery and made them want to turn their lives around. I’ve written about it before, but I continue to be struck by the honesty that many of our clients exhibit when talking about their problems and struggles. I will admit that I’m still shocked by some of the things they tell me, but I’m always impressed with their truth and dignity, which are qualities we should all strive for.
This afternoon there was another graduation for the latest class of culinary students and transitional employees. It was great to see what the students had accomplished and to sample some of the delicious food they made for the final project, but I really had trouble believing that another six weeks had passed. This year is starting to pick up steam.
And now it’s time for a much needed three-day weekend…
Yesterday we had over 40 participants in the Homeless Court come to St. Vincent de Paul to meet with public defender Diane Bellas in preparation for court this coming Friday. Essentially everyone was told to show up at 9:30 in the morning and it was a first come first serve process, so for some it was a very long day of waiting. But in general, all of the clients were extremely patient and thankful to be a part of the program. It was also a great chance to talk with the clients and hear their stories. Many told me about their past jail experiences, drug addiction, divorces, children and what ultimately led many of them to recovery and made them want to turn their lives around. I’ve written about it before, but I continue to be struck by the honesty that many of our clients exhibit when talking about their problems and struggles. I will admit that I’m still shocked by some of the things they tell me, but I’m always impressed with their truth and dignity, which are qualities we should all strive for.
This afternoon there was another graduation for the latest class of culinary students and transitional employees. It was great to see what the students had accomplished and to sample some of the delicious food they made for the final project, but I really had trouble believing that another six weeks had passed. This year is starting to pick up steam.
And now it’s time for a much needed three-day weekend…
Friday, February 6, 2009
Boom!
The serenity of retreat quickly came to a halt on Tuesday night after work when I decided to go for a jog around Lake Merritt. I put on shorts, a t-shirt, running shoes and had my iPod cued up, unfortunately I only made it about two-hundred feet to the parking lot before I noticed that one of my car windows had been smashed. It probably happened the night before--I recall hearing a sound very similar to my car alarm at around 11:30 that night, but I’m not for sure.
Obviously, a broken car window is fairly minor, and not anything to waste too much energy on, but none the less it was still enough to make me feel violated.
A week or so earlier our support people came over for dinner and we talked about the protests and riots in Oakland, and basically what one of them said is that the recent events hadn’t been a good thing, but that they proved we were working in the right area—a place that needs an infusion of young, educated people willing to work for change. I whole-heartedly agreed. But it’s always easier to witness poverty, injustice, crime, etc. from a distance, even a relatively close distance, than it is when it happens to you.
After cleaning up the glass from inside the car, and calling up my parents to figure out what I should do about insurance and getting it fixed, I talked to the Berkeley JVC house to see if I could drive it over there and crash for the night. They of course said I could, so I put a toothbrush in my backpack and grabbed my sleeping bag and hopped in the car only to discover that the car battery was drained as well. When it’s not your day, it’s not your day.
I headed back inside, ready to kick or punch something, but then I took a deep breath and I knocked on our neighbor’s door and she was generous enough to give me a jump and I headed to Berkeley where one of their neighbors let me park my car in their driveway. We ended up talking and had some tea and put on a movie, making the night about as pleasant as it could’ve been.
I took the car over to get fixed early Wednesday morning and I should have it back this afternoon, but I’ll be honest, on Tuesday night I felt like throwing in the towel and getting the heck out of Oakland. I’ll be honest again, I still kind of feel that way. But after a bit of time to calm down, I realized that it was an event that could’ve occurred anywhere and that I shouldn’t catastrophize the situation. Also, as much of this year has been, it was a reminder of how lucky I am to have a family and friends that care.
“Teach us to give and not to count the cost” -St. Ignatius of Loyola
Obviously, a broken car window is fairly minor, and not anything to waste too much energy on, but none the less it was still enough to make me feel violated.
A week or so earlier our support people came over for dinner and we talked about the protests and riots in Oakland, and basically what one of them said is that the recent events hadn’t been a good thing, but that they proved we were working in the right area—a place that needs an infusion of young, educated people willing to work for change. I whole-heartedly agreed. But it’s always easier to witness poverty, injustice, crime, etc. from a distance, even a relatively close distance, than it is when it happens to you.
After cleaning up the glass from inside the car, and calling up my parents to figure out what I should do about insurance and getting it fixed, I talked to the Berkeley JVC house to see if I could drive it over there and crash for the night. They of course said I could, so I put a toothbrush in my backpack and grabbed my sleeping bag and hopped in the car only to discover that the car battery was drained as well. When it’s not your day, it’s not your day.
I headed back inside, ready to kick or punch something, but then I took a deep breath and I knocked on our neighbor’s door and she was generous enough to give me a jump and I headed to Berkeley where one of their neighbors let me park my car in their driveway. We ended up talking and had some tea and put on a movie, making the night about as pleasant as it could’ve been.
I took the car over to get fixed early Wednesday morning and I should have it back this afternoon, but I’ll be honest, on Tuesday night I felt like throwing in the towel and getting the heck out of Oakland. I’ll be honest again, I still kind of feel that way. But after a bit of time to calm down, I realized that it was an event that could’ve occurred anywhere and that I shouldn’t catastrophize the situation. Also, as much of this year has been, it was a reminder of how lucky I am to have a family and friends that care.
“Teach us to give and not to count the cost” -St. Ignatius of Loyola
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Back from retreat.
I just got back to work today after spending parts of four days down at Camp St. Francis in Aptos. The camp was located right beside the beach, and there was a basketball hoop and a bunch of the guys organized a little tackle football game, which I’m still sore from. It was also a nice chance to relax and do a little reading. Unlike when we were there in August, the weather was clear the entire time, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more spectacular sunset. Few things in life put things in perspective the way the Pacific Ocean can.
JVC brought in University of San Francisco professor Mike Duffy. He gave three talks on Catholic social thought. He was a really inspiring guy who has done tons immersion trips and work in the City as well as in third world nations, but what I especially liked was when he talked about how each person has to define for themselves their own meaning of social justice, that it’s a long an arduous process and that you have to take time out for yourself so you don’t burnout in one month, or six months or one year. The quote he used several times was from St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Go forth and set the world on fire.” And then he asked us all to contemplate what that would look like in our own lives.
JVC brought in University of San Francisco professor Mike Duffy. He gave three talks on Catholic social thought. He was a really inspiring guy who has done tons immersion trips and work in the City as well as in third world nations, but what I especially liked was when he talked about how each person has to define for themselves their own meaning of social justice, that it’s a long an arduous process and that you have to take time out for yourself so you don’t burnout in one month, or six months or one year. The quote he used several times was from St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Go forth and set the world on fire.” And then he asked us all to contemplate what that would look like in our own lives.
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