"You Just Don't Get It."

Someone tried to convince me today that I don't understand the poor. "You don't get it.  These are not sweet single mothers who just need a bit of help.  Most are drug addicts who beat their children and take advantage of the welfare system."

Ignorance is so cute. And how sweet of her to try and educate me.

This is why we need Dorothy Day to be recognized as a Saint. She was a member of the Communist Party. She was an anarchist and a suffragette. She was jailed at least 11 times and encouraged the men around her to resist their draft notices. She refused to pay her taxes or vote in an election.   She drank and smoked too much and slept around.  She had an abortion long before it was legal to do so. 

Even after her conversion, the Church was irked by  the work she was doing and they butted heads constantly.  Dorothy did not glamorize her work with the poor. Her work was physically demanding and there was very little respite for her and her daughter.  She hated the mental illness and the stench.  She found them difficult to stand and craved silence.

She understood the poor.
She understood poverty. 
She understood the will of God.

We don't serve the poor while wearing rose colored glasses.  We don't serve them because we feel sorry for them or because they have passed some test that proves their worthiness of charity.  We serve them because it is a command from God.  We serve them because we are all undeserving of the blessings of this world.  And whether our money and needs are met through our own hard work or if they come as a result of government assistance or generous charity, ultimately all of our blessings come from God. 

Those of us who are blessed by God with health that enables us to work, return that blessing to God by our obedience in caring for others.

So we serve, without judgment.

We serve the addict.
We serve the criminals.
We serve the victims.
We serve the violent.
We serve the sick.
We serve the crazy.
We serve the liars.
We serve the manipulators.
We serve the faith-less.

And we thank God for the blessings we receive through this service and pray for His grace and mercy.