Do not worry about tomorrow...

Monday I was in an incredibly good mood. Not a common thing for a Monday, I have to admit. But there it was, a good mood. Then I came to work.

It isn't that I don't love my job or the fact that I get paid to help people. It's just that sometimes the "troubles" of life start to weigh heavy on your shoulders. Even on days that you're in an incredibly good mood.

Not that most of these were even my problems. Difficulties with guys on the program means difficulties for the program manager and director of operations; often times even the executive director gets a goodly dose of the trouble circulating around. And, despite what we may like, those feelings of agitation affect everyone around you. You wouldn't think one or two individuals could cause so many people so much frustration. However, when you're passionate about transforming the lives of those caught in addiction, that passion pulls you into the daily drama that is endemic with an "old life" being shaped into a "new one."

This frustration, of course, isn't uncommon in our line of work, but it was only one point in an overall "bad day." It was a busy day, and we were short staffed. It seems that need doesn't know when someone has gone home ill or the receptionist is taking the day off. Sales people must have made a resolution to make more calls in the New Year, because there were plenty of those, as well.

The front office was getting a makeover, a fact with which some people were pleased and others were not. Pleased or not, one of the new cubicles had to be made ready for the receptionist's return the next day. And, again, the people calling or coming to the door, didn't realize that the majority of the time I had to hop up from crawling on the floor, sorting items, to answer their incessant calls.

So the day went. Things that needed to get done remained undone, but by the end of the day, I was too worn out to care.

Then, the miraculous thing happened this morning. On my way to work, I was recalling my unusually good mood of the previous morning, and I had a revelation. Instead of looking at my Monday and thinking how it had ruined my good mood, I thought how blessed I was that God gave me such a good mood to combat such a trying day.

There are so many circumstances clamoring for us to be afraid or angry. To be anxious or agitated. But there really are blessings all around us. In spite of our moods, hungry people were fed yesterday. In spite of problems, another step has been made toward "new life" for the men in our Transformation Program. A woman who needed food, despite the fact that she worried about the weight of the basket, received abundantly above what she, apparently, asked or thought. In fact several men, women, and families received baskets of food or bags of hygiene items. Men, women, and children, without home or help, were able to find shelter at the Mission. Because of the generosity of those who give to others. It is this generosity that makes it possible for us to continue to help others.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

Generosity and Compassion...not superiority

Recently, I heard of an article which ran as an op-ed in the New York Times. The writer of this article (SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY, in the interests of proper source citation) has this to say:

"...Findings like these reveal an all-too-human truth. We care more about social comparison, status and rank than about the absolute value of our bank accounts or reputations.
For example, Andrew Clark, an economist in France, has recently shown that being laid off hurts less if you live in a community with a high unemployment rate. What’s more, if you are unemployed, you will, on average, be happier if your spouse is unemployed, too.
So in a world in which just about all of us have seen our retirement savings and home values plummet, it’s no wonder that we all feel surprisingly O.K."

I.e. The reason we aren't panicking in despair and making a run on our bank isn't because we've decided not to make the mistakes made in the Great Depression, but instead it is because we're okay with being in a recession, as long as everyone else is hurting too...

The reason I am haunted by this article is that I am offended on behalf of every person who comes to the door with a donation. Today, for example, we had several calls from people concerned about the cold weather. They wondered if we had a need of coats for those who come to the shelter; they were going through their closets to get all the extra coats and warm jackets they could find. A man dropped by and left a blanket. He didn't want a receipt; he didn't leave a name. Just a blanket. A woman dropped off 71 hand crocheted neck warmers and made sure to point out some people waiting outside our doors who could use one right away.

This isn't an unusual occurrence. For us it happens every day. So I'm supposed to believe we live in a magic bubble where people are concerned about those who are less fortunate, no matter that they too are in need? Or am I supposed to believe that the woman living on social security who sends us two dollars every month is only doing so out of a sense of superiority?

Yes, I am offended. On behalf of all those who give so generously and with such compassion. The Mission may not have the voice of the New York Times, but we do want our supporters, and the many in this country who give so generously to service agencies like ours, to know that we see your generosity. We understand that our country is great because of that generosity. Thank you on behalf of all whom you help. And God bless you.

The "Small" Things...

It isn't always easy working in a "service" agency. It isn't just the people who are difficult and expect you to be able to provide for their every need and want; it's also the people who truly need help in an area you don't offer services.

A few months ago, we had a woman come to the office who had just moved into the area. She'd come to Lansing to be with her daughter, who has some severe emotional issues. Before she left her hometown, she'd tried to find a job in Lansing but finally had to decide which was more important, her daughter or her job. So she arrived in Lansing with no job, no apartment, no friends.

It was difficult to tell her that we don't have job counselors who are available on a walk-in basis. Much of what we do is offered either for our guests or through another local agency. We gave her the number for this agency and also recommended Michigan Works.

She was so grateful that we took the time just to listen and do what we could, that we felt badly about sending her away with "nothing in her hands," so to speak. But she paused in the doorway.

"I saw your sign. Are you part of the church?"

We told her that we are a Christian organization but non-denominational. She leaned in closer, the door still open.

"Can you pray for my daughter?" And gave us her name. Then she was gone.

What an amazing and humbling reminder to us that, at times we feel the most hopeless, there is still something we can do.

Merry Christmas To All

Yesterday, the Mission distributed baskets of food and gifts for Christmas to over 200 families. What a blessing to be able to help those in need during the holiday, but even more of a blessing was how the gifts arrived, in the hands of the compassionate members of our community. One organization, especially, donated toys and time to prepare the bags for those who'd come on the giveaway day. Below is an email we received from someone from this organization...

Last night I was at Wal-mart finishing up the shopping for the Christmas gift bags. I came out of the check out lanes with two carts loaded with gifts. As I was trying to man-handle the two carts a woman comes up to me and asks me if I need help. I graciously accepted the offer and explained to her what I was up to. She got the cart to my car and wished me a Merry Christmas. As I was leaving the parking lot, I was fumbling around for my phone to call home. Since I couldn't find it, I pulled off to a lighted area in the parking lot. This woman drove up beside me and said that she would like to help out. She gave me $20!! Now how many people do you know that would out of the blue give a complete stranger $20 and trust that the money would make it's way to the City Rescue Mission.

This woman touched my heart yesterday. There is still much kindness in this world.

This story was echoed in the many people who gave to help the City Rescue Mission, with either food, toys, or money. A few weeks ago, Cheryl, our Office Manager, drove the Mission van to Walmart and filled it with toys. Instead of red velvet and white fur, she wore a burgundy polo with a "Jesus Saves" logo. Instead of a sleigh, a powder blue passenger van. It was your gifts that helped fill that van, and 8 shopping carts, to provide Christmas to over 300 children. Thank you for helping us help others.

To Give You a Future and a Hope...

The City Rescue Mission is nearing the end of its annual Christmas Basket sign-up. What this entails is signing up low-income individuals and families, who are in a home, for a basket of food and gifts for Christmas. It is always a busy time, especially as the Mission is usually the last agency in the area to hold the Christmas sign-up, and many who "missed" the sign-up at another organization are referred here.

While the actual signing in process is usually held in our dining room or day room (609 and 613 E. Michigan Avenue), some people get confused and come to our office (607 E. Michigan Avenue). It wasn't a surprise then, when a woman came to the door and began talking about Christmas baskets. What was a surprise was when we deciphered her somewhat flustered speech.

"You shouldn't be giving these people things! You need to make them work! You are enabling their laziness!"

That was the gist of her rant, and it was no use to explain to her. She wouldn't listen when we told her that the people who received Christmas baskets have a home. That many of them were "working poor" who just need a little help now and then. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the men waiting outside the dayroom to sign-up for a bed for the night, and she went on her way, probably still angry with us for what she viewed as our damage to society, and left a lingering bad taste in her wake. A bad taste of all those words that remained unsaid and the impossibility of explaining or communicating anything to someone who only wanted to hear her own opinions.

That taste remained as I mulled over just how to explain why we do what we do. In a way, she had a point. We do want our guests to find jobs. We want them to work and create new lives for themselves. We want them to leave us. It's a strange sort of job. You grow to care for these men, women, and children, but your ultimate goal is to put them in a position where they don't need the Mission. Where we don't see them sitting on a bench outside our doors or walking up the driveway with their kids in tow. We love them so they will leave.

So how do you differentiate between the "deserving" and the "undeserving" poor? How do we tell a man who's waiting outside in the cold that he's not welcome because we don't believe he's done what he should do? Yet on the other hand, we do want them to work. We want them to be productive. To be active in making the right choices for themselves, for their families, for their future...

The answer came later the next day, while we gathered to celebrate the graduation of one of the men on our Transformation Program. These men are addicts. On the road to recovery, committed to "transformation," but many of them have caused a lot of damage. They made drugs and alcohol their god and eventually sacrificed everyone and everything they ever cared about, that ever cared about them. Does that make them "undeserving" of another chance at a new life?

In the end, it isn't about what they deserve but about grace. The grace of a God who gives gifts to us over and beyond what we could ask or think. Not because we're great, or special, or deserving. Because He loves us.

That is what motivates us. That is our mission. To reach out a hand of help as an example of this unending grace. Some of those who come to us are what is termed "chronically homeless." In many cases, they've given up on society and on themselves. So do we give up on them? Has God given up? Did He give up on us?

Aren't second chances and redemption what Christmas is all about?

Goodbye...until Tomorrow

Saturday, October 25, 2008, Leon Kellogg shrugged off the mortal and put on immortality. For most of his life, Leon was a staunch supporter of the City Rescue Mission of Lansing. It could be said the Mission was in his blood, as both sets of grandparents were instrumental in creating the Mission and keeping it alive. Leon himself gave over 40 years of his life in service to the Mission: editing the newsletter, volunteering to speak in chapel, presiding over the board of directors, and more. While he and his family suffered greatly from his illness over the past several years, his legacy continues to be reflected in the grateful smiles of every man, woman, and child who is helped, has been helped, and will be helped by the City Rescue Mission. A great example of a servant's heart, Leon is one more of the "unsung" heroes of the faith who have laid a trail for us to humbly follow. Our prayers are with the Kellogg family during this time of separation.

1 Corinthians 15:54: So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Welcome: Behind the Scenes

In 1911, when Thomas and Emily Dolton founded the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, the world was a very different place. Clothing styles, medicine, education, transportation, communication...everything has changed. However, the needs of people around us have not changed. In John 12:8, Jesus told His disciples that the poor would always be with us; this is not to point out the hopelessness of our cause but rather to emphasize the opportunities in front of us every day.

At one of the annual Mission appreciation banquets, a couple who support the Mission expressed the idea that we, who work at the Mission, serve on "the front lines." In a way, this is very true. Being face-to-face, daily, with the full range of human suffering can wear on even the most compassionate spirit. Fortunately, behind every action we take, whether it be cooking a meal or answering the phone, the ultimate purpose is more than just service. Our desire is to glorify God by exemplifying the love of Christ to someone who may feel beyond love.

It is an awesome responsibility, to be the face and hands and words of Hope to people who feel lost and alone. This is to be a record of their stories, and ours, as we seek to meet their needs, both physical and spiritual. Thank you for joining us on our journey. And welcome!