Spirit On The Margins

This story comes from a volunteer spiritual companion in our spiritual partner network. She leads a spirituality group for men in a chemical dependency treatment program. Sally is a unique person and not afraid to be who she is and say what she thinks and feels. First, Sally’s story:

“In he walks, a biker in all of his glory!  Sooo much hair, delibertately uncombed. I guess that would be the wind blown effect – lots of facial hair as well. Attitude and rage oozing out. ‘Don’t even think about messin with me.’”

“Having never been in close contact with a bonafide biker, I was thrilled with the challenge. A bad boy blazing downt the highway on a Harley really intrigued me.  He willingly walked into our spirituality group, announcing he had never even heard of that word (spirituality), and ‘didn’t know nothin about God.’”

“He had very intense vibrations, yet sat very calmly and listened. He never missed group. Our group allows the men to facilitate.  When he was asked if he would take the next week he was stunned yet agreed.  He slowly started sharing his story.”

“One day he came in with some scribblings on a piece of paper and handed it to me.  After reading it, I asked if I could share it with the group.  It was obviously inspired writing.  He voiced his confusion and even disbelief, ‘It’s kinda like a voice telling me to write.’  The group agreed that God speaks to all of us but few listen or do as told.  I gave him a notebook to record all he was inspired to say.  Often, he would share it with us.  He slowly became very honest aobut his long rap sheet and seemed truly remorseful.”

“One night he announced that he was through with his old lifestyle.  He was a bit confused about what came next, but determined to never go back.  In front of everyone I stated that if he was really sincere he might want to consider a make over to change his image.  He laughed and said he wasn’t sure about that!!”

“The next Monday was a holiday. I decided to appear anyway as I knew Paul would be nervous about the next day’s court scene.”

“I walk into the building.  Two men are sitting by the telephone.  One is Bud, who always attends group.  The other is a stranger.  My first thought is, ‘Oh a new fellow.  My he’s nice looking, and seems friendly.’  I ask Bud to announce I’m in house. I have come to support Paul.  The stranger just stares at me.”

“I go upstairs.  Soon Bud and the stranger come up.  Bud introduces the new guy as ‘Joe.’  I put my hand out to shake his.  He says, ‘Sally – come on. It’s me Paul.’  I am genuinely astounded!  Bud is laughing at the joke he has been able to play because he has seen that I literally have not recognized Paul.”

“The bad boy biker has disappeared!  Here stands a beautiful man with short, wavey, well combed locks and no facial hair at all.  His presence says, ‘deep quiet strength and  a gentle heart. A man ready to find his own truth.’ I am so stunned I don’t think I will ever forget it.  What a joy to witness such a remarkable transformation!”

“Group was so great that night.   Again, we prayed for a good resolution of Paul’s case.  I asked him to contat Bud about the verdict, who would then let me know if Paul had been taken to prison.”

“I was called — it was Paul.  It seems the judge was just as stunned by the change in Paul.  He had often stood before her.  She allowed him to return to finish his treatment. She suggested he gather some references and fax them to her.  (This will be one of them.)  She set another court date so they could re-negotiate.”

“With the recidivism rate as high as it is, I truly needed this experience.  I had been getting weary. The whole group needed it.  We can all recognize how God orchestrated it all so beautifully with His incredible sense of humor and His undying love.”    Sally

Now, Paul’s thoughts:

“I have learned a great deal from the spirituality group.  I’ve become a more balanced person. I’ve been able to share my past and present feelings and thoughts in a comfortable and safe place.  I’ve also learned that spirituality plays  a very big part in all of my decisions on a daily basis.”

“Most of all, it’s taught me that spirtiuality is a great connection to my heart and my conscience.  So I will continue to go with my heart that is strengthened by my spirituality.  Because I’ve also learned that if and when God seems far away, to ask myself ‘Who’ moved away. Thank you.”   Paul

 

City House Cup brochure spring 10

Dear friends of City House,

Happy New Year!! I hope and trust that you all had a blessed holiday period.

 We believe that Spirit stirs hearts, and that City House’s “Will You Drink From This Cup?” offering is a perfect match for what hungers inside some of you, or others that you might know. We invite you to experience connection with the poor as a spiritual practice.

 Attend to that hunger. Check out this offering at our orientation on Thursday, February 4^th, from 7:00p.m. – 9:00p.m. at Loyola Spirituality Center.

 Review the attached electronic brochure to see if it in fact stirs something in you. (underlined in blue beneath the picture – be sure to read all 4 pages to get details)

 RSVP if you would like to attend the orientation or to register!! tomallen@city-house.org 763-227-0686.

Peace to you in this New Year!!

Tom Allen and Jean Grover, City House

Another inspirational story from one of our volunteers.

This morning I was facilitating a spirituality group at a drug/alcohol treatment center. Yesterday a man who was a participant in the recovery program died in his room at the center. Many of the men in the group I was facilitating knew him well. A new man came to the group today, who I believe was an alumni of the treatment program, who I’ll call Paul. He had felt an inner nudge from God to come to the group today, after he finished working a 3rd shift at the Metrodome. Paul has been sober for 4 years, but he came back today to give back to others.

Another man in the group said he’d had a nagging feeling that he was supposed to ask Paul to be his sponsor (mentor) for his recovery program, but he hadn’t seen Paul in a while. So when Paul showed up this morning and sat next to him, he saw that as an answer to prayer.

Paul spoke in the group about the intimacy of his relationship with God, and about the joy he found in it.  He emphasized that expressing our emotions and thoughts to God is key to cultivating the relationship, just as we would with a friend.

Paul’s presence spoke deeply to me, and many of the men there, who were grieving about the man who died yesterday.

Click for Brochure

We had not planned on offering the “Will You Drink From This Cup?” program this fall.  But, we have had so many requests that we have decided to offer it after all.

A City House spiritual enrichment program in collaboration with Christos Center for Spiritual Formation, Loyola Spirituality Center, and Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality.

This program is for you if you want to deepen your relationship:

~ With God;

~ With the economically disadvantaged

~ In a supportive environment of fellow Learners

This program is for you if you want to explore meaningful questions, such as:

~ How can God shape me through those who find themselves in poverty?

~ In what ways am I homeless, imprisoned and impoverished?

~ What currently keeps me separated from persons in poverty?

~ Other questions you and God will Identify.

For information and registration, attend our session on Tuesday, September 8th from

7 to 9 p.m. at Loyola Spirituality Center. Please RSVP if you plan on attending

city-house-inner-leadership-brochure-fall-09

We are delighted to once again offer the Inner Leadership: Choosing to Learn from Mentors on the Margins program this fall.

This program is for mainstream leaders from all sectors (government, business, religious, and nonprofit).  It is for those who have moved beyond the success/ skill set stage of leadership and:

Have made or want to make the interior turn

Have made or want to make the transition to power by reflection;

Already take or would like to take their spirituality seriously;

Want to leave their comfort zone and learn from mentors they least expect;

Want to change their own lives and live out of a deeper sense of purpose;

 

Want to grow as leaders in a safe environment

 

4 learners from last year’s program have already stepped forward to “pay it forward” for this year’s learners!!  We are looking for new learners to step forward, and / or nominees for new learners that you think might benefit from this program, and / or new sponsors to financially sponsor even more learners.

 

To find out more, attend our information session. Please RSVP if you plan on attending.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As part of the “Will You Drink From This Cup?” program, we lead a session entitled the Culture of Poverty. It is designed to help mainstream learners better understand the values and behaviors they encounter among persons who find themselves on the margins of society.

That session is co-led by one or more participants from our core program, where we are providing spiritual companionships to persons who find themselves on the margins of society.  This time, we were very capably led by Pedro and Eric in this discussion. They did an outstanding job. I was lucky enough to have my picture taken with my good friends.

At the half way point of City House’s “Will You Drink From This Cup?” we lead our learners on an inner city pilgrimage for a day. This time, like many others, we visited Reentry Metro, a halfway house for women coming out of prison, and Dorothy Day, a drop in homeless shelter in downtown St. Paul.

As in the past, this turns out to be one of the most powerful experiences of the entire program.  As one of our learners said when we were done, “On a scale of 1 – 10, I give this experience a “12″.

Dear friends,

We are so blessed to have such dedicated and soulful volunteers who provide spiritual companionship to persons who find themselves on the margins of society. It is such a gift to City House and to persons on the margins to have them as part of our community.

Recently, we conducted a survey of those volunteers and asked them to reflect upon their experience. Here are some quotes to some key questions that were asked. 27 current, past, and prospective volunteers responded.

What about volunteering with City House is life giving:

The stories! The opportunity to listen to people I would not otherwise meet. The challenge I have each week of quelling my fear and anxiety about meeting strangers. Intimacy with another person.  It is a time of goodness.

It often seems as I leave the prison that our session was mutual.  I have much to ponder as I think about the starkness and confinement of the prison and the freedom and presence of God in our conversations.  Many inner and outer contrasts.  I find I care very much about the woman I see – it’s a mutual friendship.

The depth of prayer and honesty in the group. It is one of the most life giving things that I’m a part of.  The care that the men have for each other during that time is so life giving to me.

Remaining present to personal suffering without trying to fix things is spiritual work and humbling.  Experiencing pain among the marginalized.  Remaining vulnerable in ambiguous situations. Keeping my heart open.

These women inspire me in their determination (some, not all), generosity, hopefulness, admission of wrongdoing.  Simply creating space that allows them to speak their truth to themselves and each other is a beautiful thing to be part of.

My time with City House as been one of the most deepening experiences. Learning to just be with the poor, listening and loving them. Bringing hope and love of our God.  Letting God work first with me.

What about volunteering wiht City House is life draining?

Knowing that it is hard to break through life-long habits and behavior and that my presence may not make much difference for many of them.

Struggles with boundaries – i.e. how much to get involved in someone’s life, tendency toward care taking. Recognizing the reality of helplessness, even hopelessness in other’s lives touches into fears about my own.

Sometimes I forget and wnat to take care of the participant when all I need to do is listen and be supportive in words and prayers.  Listening to the obstacles (government) they have to literally push thru at times gets frustrating.

I have been unable to figure out how to move beyond my own fear and pain surrounding this population and so have not pursued additional volunteer work with City House, but I still hold some kind of interest and plan to keep holding it till I know what to do next.

Would you recommend City House volunteeing to others?

Yes. It is a joy to work with folks on the margins who can teach we middle class folks so much about trust, perseverance, and overcoming adversity.

I have, Iwould and I do.  Volunteering with City House moves me out of my comfort zone to share the gift I have of listening, being with, accepting, loving another.  The barriers of race, gender, life style, accents, life experience, religious denomination, wealth, employment (or lack thereof) fall away.

I would and have recommended City House volunteering to experienced spiritual companions.  It’s a place to enlarge our view of God and God’s love and look inwardly with a new perspective.  One can grow in gratefulness and compassion and learn to see God in all people.

Yes, there are few opportunities to connect with people on the margins of society through relationships of dignity and respect.

I love the programs and enrichment opportunities City House offers to volunteers.  I also love how they offer support and then encourage us to follow Spirit.  I believe they do everything possible to make our work an enriching life experience.

Can you see why City House staff finds it so rewarding to work with this group of people as volunteers. It is so rewarding!!

City House Cup Program Spring ‘09 Brochure

City House is delighted to once again offer this program that invites you to experience connection with the poor as spiritual practice.

Please feel free to attend our information / orientation session on Thursday, January 22, from 7:00p.m. – 9:00p.m. at Loyola Spirituality Center.

This is the full brochure. Make sure to click through all 4 pages of this PDF file to get all of the information.

Thanks!!

 

A friend of mine, Michael Bischoff, is taking a year’s sabbatical and doing research on the spirit of institutions.  He has begun a blog where he reports and reflects on what he is learning. The Spirit of Institutions  It overlaps in some ways with City House’s work on The Inner Leadership Program, where we invite mainstream leaders into relationships where they are mentored by someone on the margins of society. The premise of this program is that relationships with persons on the margins will lead them beyond their ego and the achievement / success stage of leadership.

MIchael was a learner in that pilot program this fall, and he was mentored by Charles Simmons, an ex-felon. Michael interviews Charles in this video on his blog.

Charles Simmons: Spirituality and Leadership