Theologian Walter Brueggemann describes the stranger as “people without a place.” Asbury professor Christine D. Pohl in her book, Making Room, adds, “to be without a place means to be detached from basic, life-supporting institutions—family, work, polity, religious community, and to be without networks of relations that sustain and support human beings. This is the condition in which homeless people, displaced poor people, refugees and undocumented persons find themselves.”
From what networks and institutions do you receive “support”? What networks and institutions are you a part of for the support of others? What can you do to strengthen these “life-supporting institutions” for the homeless and displaced?
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
How how you become more aware of people without a place so far during the Compact? What have you learned about God’s vision for “place”? Post a comment to share your “growth” with others.
Tongue on Fire 
I’ve discovered that I’m guilty of lumping people together and labeling them. I do it all the time–mostly unconciously. The homeless. The disabled. The undocumented. The poor. By labeling groups by their status or condition, I objectify them. These are people, not a condition or diagnosis. Meeting Michael on Sunday gave me this moment of clarity. Michael is a man who happens to be homeless for the time being. Sarah is a woman with a disability. Jesus and Maria are people without documents. People first; status or condition second. When Michael was born, his parents chose a name–a name that they liked or had some family history or some special meaning or dream attached to it. His name gave him identity and individuality. When I simply call him, “the homeless”, I rob him of his dignity, his significance and his uniqueness. I rob him of his history and his social connections. Maybe the first step of the journey to provide shelter for the poor wanderers is to simply ask, “What is your name?”
By the way, Michael means, “like God.” What a great name. God, thank you for reminding me that everyone is made in the image of God.
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I thought you might like reading this comment and the subsequent blog post. The blog post itself is about the Pope lumping together the homosexual population with his rather bigoted comments.
http://thejayray.tumblr.com/post/18436260842/matt-gemmell-wrote-on-the-homophobic-sentiments-of
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“What is your name?” Like!
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i have gotten to know a homeless woman. her name is wanda. knowing her name really does make her a human being. hopefully when i return to chicago, she will have found a place to live. that is her goal.
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