Last week I had the privilege of representing Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in receiving the Good Neighbor Award from an organization called helpNYC. HelpNYC is an organization started by Rue Parkin in response to the difficulties unhoused people have accessing services in New York City. The organization is peer based and empowering of individuals, rooted in the conviction that people are the experts in their own experiences and the best advocates for their own needs.
HelpNYC defines its mission succinctly: removing barriers, restoring dignity, inspiring hope. These are aspirational values that we share, and so it was an honor to be recognized, organization to organization, for our common commitments. The event was lovely, too: an intimate gathering in the cloister garden of St. John’s Church in the Village.
All wonderful, all inspiring. And one of the most powerful aspects of the evening was seeing people gathered together from different organizations dedicated to making people’s lives better. Shower Power, providing showers for people living on the streets was there, as was a team from Housing Works and various individuals who were giving their time and energy to one or more of the groups represented. The generosity was free flowing. The goodwill (translated into action) was palpable.
There is a lot to be angry about in the world just now. There is much to grieve. One spiritual discipline in response is to hold the reality of all of that with a reality just as immediate: the good fight is still being fought. Individually and in groups, people are locating the light that shines in the darkness, sharing it insistently and generously.
