Unhoused and of One Heart: ruminations of a retired priest

Standing in solidarity with our unhoused neighbors means first and foremost looking them in the eye and seeing the divine spark, the Holy Heart, that lives in them exactly as it lives in us.

Twenty years ago I had the privilege of meeting Jakomarra at the Dreamtime Aboriginal Art Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At the time Jakomarra, was one of the most famous Australian Aboriginal artists as well as the medicine man for his tribe that lives in the central Australian desert near Uluru.

My conversation with Jakomarra wandered through the stories living in his Dreamtime paintings, touched on descriptions of life in his home community and landed on the question, “How are your people reimbursed for the diamonds and other resources the government extracts from your land?’

Jakomarra explained. Each year the Australian government makes a lump sum payment to every tribe for the use of their land and diamonds. Being the tribal leader, Jakomarra travels to Sydney where he collects the payment in paper money. Then comes the amazing part.

Jakomarra does not sit down and calculate an 18% fee to cover his travel and expenses to Sydney. Neither does he divide the total amount received from the government by the number of folks in his community to determine an equal sum distributed to each individual.

As soon as folks spy Jakomarra’s dilapidated truck returning from Sydney, they form a large circle. Jakomarra walks to the center of the circle, spreads out a blanket onto which he dumps all of the paper money. Then begins a process that may continue for two or three days.

Jannali says, “I need a refrigerator. The old one on my porch has not worked for many months.” Old Mary reminds Jannali, “Last year you got monies for your teeth.” The conversation continues. Daku says, “I need a truck.” Lots of heads nod and Jakomarra assents. Daku goes to the blanket and takes a wad of money.

Jarli says “We need money to fix up the schoolhouse.” Someone challenges him, “You old owl, you got money last year and the roof is still leaking.” Talia takes fists full of money for a new kangaroo fence. The old folks know how much it will cost and make him put half of the paper money back.

This process continues amidst laughter and jibes until the blanket is empty and everyone has expressed their need. “And they were all together and had all things in common and distributed the paper money to all, as they had need.” I have no idea when this practice began but these people have been in Australia for fifty thousand years!

Two thousand years ago (which seems almost like yesterday) the first followers of the Jesus movement “were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (See Acts of the Apostles text below).

So why is it so difficult for us highly civilized, dare I say, enlightened people, to “devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, praise God and with generous hearts direct our resources for the good of all people?”

From Ancient Times through the Middle Ages (roughly 600BCE to the middle of the 15th century) people found their identity in the group to which they belonged. Their interdependence and shared beliefs fostered an awareness of and solidarity with one another’s needs creating a unifying community consciousness.*

Culture changed dramatically during the Renaissance in Europe. Since then identity is no longer found in association with a particular group or tribe. Now identity is established by separating oneself from the crowd, being distinguished as a thinker, orator, artist or politician and believing that personal freedom is paramount. Concern for community, the common good, is replaced by emphasis on the individual living well in the social, political and intellectual spheres.

Since the 19th century, individualism, with its associated self interest and pursuit of personal power and profit, has been a core ideology in the United States. This view of what it means to be human insists “my life is all about me, my effort and my achievement.” This attitude fosters a false sense of self-sufficiency.

If we want to follow the Apostles’ teaching of living with generous hearts bent toward the good of all people, what are we to do? Surely we do not want to undermine free enterprise nor the unique ways we individuals express our social, political or religious interests. We do not want to squelch our willingness to take a risk, experiment and exercise our unique talents. These are some of the admirable qualities of individualism.

At the same time we would do well to challenge the notion that we are self-reliant. Do we grow our own food? Maintain our roads? Determine when and into what circumstance we are born? What if we acknowledge that we all benefit from unearned blessings and the work of others? What if we refuse to set individual rights at war with the common good? What if we acted such that our rights would not exploit or tromp on anyone else?

The question of who deserves what is at the heart of the raging culture wars between those considered conservative and elite. Rather than fueling this futile sorting project, I believe it is time to seek a common good, to spend time and break bread together, then with glad and generous hearts, praise God for our unmerited gifts and act for the good of all people.

Recently I attended a public forum; Hearing Our Neighbors: What’s it like to be unhoused in Santa Fe. Six folks who were or had been unhoused bravely told their stories. When a member of the audience asked, “What may we do for you?” this was their unanimous response.

“When you see us standing on a median or leaning against a sign post, make eye contact and smile. Do not be afraid of us. We are people too.”

What if we distinguished ourselves as individuals who stand in solidarity with our unhoused neighbors? What might that look like?

Call to Action

Knowing how much we enjoy a good meal, what if when we went out for a lovely lunch with friends we ordered another lunch to go and delivered it with a smile to an unhoused person?

Knowing how good a hot shower feels, what if when we luxuriate in our home shower we set three dollars aside to give to the woman on the median because it costs three dollars to access a shower?

Standing in solidarity with our unhoused neighbors means first and foremost looking them in the eye and seeing the divine spark, the Holy Heart that lives in them exactly as it lives in us. It also means recognizing our shared human desire for dignity and care. Let us be glad and with generous hearts find simple ways to put flesh on the bones of our belief that although we are many we are One people made of One Heart.

• Kenneth Allan; Kenneth D. Allan (2 November 2005). Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World. Pine Forge Press. p. 108.

Acts of the Apostles 2:42–47 Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.