Grace in Action Offering the Shelter of God's Hope and Love
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Dear Friends of Grace in Action Article
On The Edge

Dear Friends of Grace in Action,

 

Edges have been on my mind. I sit on the edge of the ocean bluffs, even now…sea breeze spraying mist into the spring air. Seagulls flying. North coast grasses waving in the wind. Butterflies dancing.

 

An edge…a place to get away to renew.

 

Jesus left the suffering crowds to renew and to pray. He left the edge of the deep pain of the crowds in search of healing.   My spiritual director reminded me recently, that leaving the crowds is not only good for me in Grace in Action's ministry to those who struggle, but necessary. Going to the edge of the ocean or a mountaintop or another place of sabbath rest provides balance in ministry.   If I am to be any good at all, as  spiritual companion to those on the edge of society, I must leave the edges of pain and suffering in order to renew and restore my relationship with God and this "temple" of soul and spirit from which God's work is done. To be present as spiritual companion to the homeless, I seek the edges of seascape, rugged grasslands and rock outcroppings. Only then can I return to the ragged bluffs of heartache and sorrow of those living on the edge of our community.

 

Grace House is also on an edge. An edge between 5^th and D Street. Grace House, where we provide ministry outreach to the homeless is, quite literally, on the edge of Davis Community Church. It is there, that a 26 year old Davis resident found himself last Thursday. He was on the edge of the dangerous and fragile bluffs of mental illness. Interestingly, this mentally ill young man was not homeless. He had an apartment of his own nearby. He was not a registered guest of Grace in Action. In fact, I had never met him before.

 

The house was alive with celebration as homeless guests and volunteers surprised me with an early birthday party. As our homeless guests were visiting on the front porch, the young man approached. His blazoned eyes staring straight ahead. He told one of the guests to punch him in the stomach. Our guest would not oblige.

 

It appeared that we were, in that moment, on another edge…on the edge of a miracle.   That particular guest had just completed his registration and Grace House behavior agreement form. Our policy is to tell each new guest the first time they enter the house…that this "house" is a sanctuary, a place of rest for the weary…a safe place. For that reason, we do not allow mistreatment of others. We do not allow loud noises, we do not allow discord. And we certainly do not tolerate any form of violence or abuse. We tell them, "This is your home away from homelessness. We would like you to help keep this house as a place of rest and renewal, not strife." They readily agree.

 

The guest who had just signed his name to that agreement, was the homeless guest this mentally ill young man approached and asked to punch him in the stomach. "Nope..I'm not gonna punch you…why would you want me to do that?" our homeless guest asked. The young man, eyes ablaze with a driving force that was not his own responded flatly, "I need to suffer…for my sins." When he could find no one to punch him in the stomach, he left the porch and appeared to go on his way. The brief incident seemed to have ended as our guests settled back into conversation. Then, suddenly, to everyone's horror…this confused young man walked out into the oncoming traffic on Russell Blvd, blank eyes staring straight ahead...not looking right or left to check the traffic.

 

Amazingly, the young man was not hurt. The cars screeched to a sudden halt, drivers unnerved and shaken. With the promptings of our homeless guests…he was invited back to the Grace House. There was commotion as some of the guests had come inside to tell me of this strange young man's behavior and how no one would punch him in the stomach. I went out to the porch…and down the steps. Two obviously concerned homeless guests were yelling at the young man, "Why did you DO that, you could have been KILLED!"

 

 In a single word, I heard myself give a sudden command, "HUSH!"

 

 Silence….no sound…nothing. All stopped. Looking him in the eyes, I reached out my hand…three steps the opposite direction and he would have been back in the middle of Russell Blvd. My hand outstretched…whispering, "Sweetie, will you take my hand?" Trembling hand reaching toward me… fingers interlocking into safety. Together we walked up the steps, through the crowd…still silent, a collective holding of breath. Entering the house…a holy hush had fallen…party ended…a path opening…door to my office held…inside, safe, away from the yelling…away from the traffic, away from the pain…at least for the moment. He told me when I asked why he thought he had to suffer, "The Archangel David told me I must suffer for my sins."

 

Another edge.

 

Calming…whispered conversation…Holy listening…to his sorrow, struggle, pain and need…his need for someone to understand that he really didn't want to die. He really didn't want to suffer.

 

Grace in Action…triage in the continuum of care for those on the edge…homeless, or not.

Telephone call to the church office, Pastor Bill arriving, telephone call to professor father on campus, food offered, birthday cake shared. The young man smoked a cigarette or two….asking each time if he had permission to do so. I gently put my hand on his shoulder, more whispered reassurance. His father could not be reached…a call to the Davis Police Department. One officer arrived; spoke to him…then suddenly there were two more, standing like gargoyles over him. Understandably the young man started trembling again. I moved away from the three men in uniform so I could be in this young man's line of vision…so he could see me standing there…still present in the circle of uniforms.  

 

The police asked him to stand up to they could check his pockets…on the edge of their own fear perhaps, I'm not sure. Then they handcuffed him. My heart winced. I asked if I could speak to him. One officer approved my request. I folded the young man's hand within my own, fingers interlocked again. I told him how glad I was to have met him. I assured him that he would be taken to the hospital where he would get the medication he had missed the night before and where he could feel safe. I felt the need to remind him that he was not "bad" and that the handcuffs were just for his safety. He understood…smiled and thanked me for the food and the chocolate cupcake and ice cream.

 

Another edge. Breath held…a bit scary.

 

Sometimes, I've been accused of living on the edge. My own family thought I was a bit on the edge when I left my secure teaching job to serve God by serving the homeless.  

 

Yes, I suppose edges can be risky. Some folks would have our community believe that Grace in Action being here on the edge of Davis Community Church is a risk in and of itself. I've attended enough "risk assessment meetings" to know that to be true.   But isn't that what we are called to do as Christians? Isn't that what Jesus did? He didn't settle for the status quo, he didn't serve the wounded, poor and needy from the "safe places." He went to the edges and into Samaria to love, to heal and to share the Good News. Aren't we called to the edge of risk in order to become disciples of Christ? When we speak out against injustice, when we stand in solidarity with the oppressed and when we tell the truth and bring darkness into the light…we take a risk of upsetting the status quo. We stand on the edge.

 

Grace in Action and Davis Community Church took the risk of standing on the edge of hope for one young Davis man. He wasn't homeless, but he found a temporary home and family of homeless guests on the edge of the church last Thursday who cared enough to bring him to the shelter of God's hope and love. For him, it was also a shelter from the storm of his own mental illness. Our homeless guests helped that young man step away from the edge of the dangerous bluff of a possible suicide.   A risk? You bet! An edge?…of course! It was a risk and an edge that brought life…not death. It was a risk and an edge that allowed for the breathtaking view of one of God's miracles…and for the grateful father who called me later in the day…it was a risk…worth taking.

 

We are grateful for your support as you join us in taking the risk of providing a home away from homelessness through Grace House...on the edge of 5 ^th and D. 

 

Cindy Burger, Director Grace in Action 

 

Please note...if you would like to serve on our board of directors, or assist with volunteer coordination, please feel free to contact us at Volunteer@Grace-in-Action.org

 

 

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