Peniel--Temenos Catholic Worker

Journal of An Alien Street Priest

The Reverend Geoff Simpson, who spent a summer with us in 2003 recently wrote a song reflecting on that time, and two other similar summer experiences:

"Out. ..in the city, as the busy people hurry past the fragile form

pounding the pavement for a little something for that feeling, deep and warm.

Methadone treatments are harder to finish than finding the junk on the streets.

Nobody listens and nobody cares what he sells, what he buys, what he eats.

I offer sandwiches made up of cranberry sauce, 'cause it's cheaper than jam'.

Needle exchange and protection, reducing harm to himself, is the plan.

Summer impressions; life shaking lessons.

Summer impressions, life shaping lessons.

The older I get, the more I forget how things that I've seen on the way, are still with me yet.

The older I get, the more I forget how things I've seen on the way, are still with me."

From time to time people ask me when I am going to retire, and seem to have difficulty understanding the word "retirement" is not a part of my vocabulary; others tell me I need to do something else, and tell me, "You have done your part", and to walk away, which would be for me like Lot's wife looking back, "she turned to stone." I have put my "hand to plow" and I can not look back. For the things I have seen on the streets are always with me, I can not escape.

In the City of San Francisco, we are experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis. Rents are driven to stratospheric levels by the growth of the technology industry. The homeless population is growing dramatically, often clustering in informal camps, on our side walks, and under bridges and freeways. As always San Francisco is the leader in the trends of the nation, and the trend of homelessness is spreading across the country.

Those of us who work with people on the streets often feel like the Green Monkey, who was separated from it's Green Monkey troop, and whom you often find staring intensely across the way at her friends, and sometimes even communicating with them by vocalization. Do they hear? What do you think she is saying? For twenty four years I have sought to answer that question of how to end homelessness, and still wondering when people are going to hear. There are no answers. All that is left for me is to be a pastor, in the moment, without judgment.

I came to San Francisco very black and white in my thinking, and in the years that have followed my thinking and actions have moved into the gray ares. As I have worked with people who have nothing, who are persecuted, harassed, ridiculed, and destroyed, the one thought that comes to mind is that their humility, compassion, and kindness has taught me there is no "evil" in the world, only pain,self-hatred, wounded souls, and disenfranchised humans, who are pushed to do terrible things. Personally I believe that this may hold the key to healing the angry predicament we are in today. Hope overcomes fear.

Jesus in Mark 7:31-35, heals a deaf man, a sign of how God is acting to heal and transform a world marred by injustice. When we act in God's name to bring his mercy to others, we never act alone and make present the truth Martin Luther King, Jr. once observed: "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Let us hear the voice of Jesus and move out of our tribes, and become an actor of healing.

May God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you now and forever. Amen!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Activities in October

Weekly Meals--At least one, or two when we have assistance.

 October 1, 10 a,m.--6:00 p.m.--San Francisco Vegetarian Festival

October 20, Noon-5:00 p.m.-- Our Town sf--Bringing together City non-profits to give people better access.

October 21: 8 and 11 a.m.-- Reception giving thanks for St. Luke's Episcopal Church support.

We invite you to attend and assist in any of these, activities, please call 415:305-2124.

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       We Are Beggars!

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approaches we are in need of additional funding for buying gifts of stocking caps, and for extra food. We need financing for the increasing need of socks.

We are begging for your support, and in giving you become our hands and feet on the ground.

Mail:

Temenos Catholic Worker

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

or through Pay Pal on our website

or through Pay Pal using our phone number:

415-305-2124

If you have problems call 415-305-2124 for assistance.

Our thanks to all who support us now, to those who have entered the Communion of Saints, and to those who have moved on for various reasons.

We are often asked about our "community", and our community are you who have given through the years, who support me personally, chastising sometimes, but always loving, and those who come and go as volunteers. We have never been alone.

Dio Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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