Social Work in the Absence of Faith

"the value of observation over judgment was lost upon her, lost as she thought that her life was really somewhere else, somewhere not in this and every moment."

 Discerning rather than judging is hard; often it's really hard. We are reminded in most all the spiritual traditions east or west, about the practice of openness, of emptiness and the great gifts it brings when we are empty to receive in the here and now. Our life is filled moment to moment with the world and ourselves, filled to the top.
The militancy of  persons engaged in 'social initiatives,' 'community action' or the like is unnecessary in Jesus' world. Often it arises in moments of fearfulness, places where 'voids in faith' prosper.
The Christ's strength came from within himself to be shared with all he came into contact with. His peace became their peace, and his love their own.

Jesus, the Christ, reminds us of this when we read the gospels which tell of his decided indifference to the character and style of an individual life. Tax collectors, despots, harlots and others, he was willing to treat them, to attend to the great commandment of love for one's neighbor.

Who is your neighbor? The gospel of Luke 10:30-37 gives some clues:
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who also stripped him and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead.  And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by.  
But a certain Samaritan, being on his journey, came near him: and seeing him, was moved with compassion: And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine over his wounds, and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  
And the next day he took out two pence and gave to the host and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever you shall spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay you.  Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers?  He said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do in like manner.

 It is not necessary to go far to meet one which you and your gifts may help. Neighbors are everywhere. If we are living in the "now moment," the present moment with its most pressing meaning, before long, we will come to understand our self first and our neighbor more clearly who is very human, like our self.
 It becomes clear that a thinking mind may observe and notice without casting stones or passing judgements. 

Questions, after all, are about listening. And they start conversations that may close gaps, increase confidence and strengthen community. Discernment and compassion in place of quick judgement is a valuable way to understand, and to love.

"If only we could be white as snow." 
-- sung by U2

Faith and Action

Minute By Minute

Performed by The Doobie Bros.

LISTEN HERE

Hey, don't worry, I've been lied to

I've been here many times before

Girl, don't you worry, I know where I stand

I don't need this love, I don't need your hand

I know I could turn, blink and you'd be gone

Then I must be prepared any time to carry on

But minute by minute by minute by minute

I keep holding on

Oh, minute by minute by minute by minute

I keep holding on

You will stay just to watch me, darlin'

Wilt away on lies from you

Can't stop the habit of livin' on the run

I take it all for granted, like you're the only one

Livin' on my own

Somehow that sounds nice

You think I'm your fool

Well, you may just be right

Cause minute by minute by minute by minute

I keep holding on

Oh, minute by minute by minute by minute

I keep holding on...

Sometimes, somehow we deceive our self. We think, almost without any regard for what lays beyond our front door that we are entirely clever, that we keep others around for our own comfort or pleasure. That we are the master of destiny--ours of course and others are around like actors in our film.
With claims that we feel guilty "because we only have them around to feel better," or because they relieve our depression or stress.

How ironic, how amusing! To think that the world needs, requires me, uniquely to function; to think that others are so blind. Maybe the old French saying, "He who accuses, accuses himself," is so much more closer to what is truthfully occurring.
Yet with a view to what others are actually doing, we may gain insight. Is it I, or is it another who is the maker, the doer of the speech or action? Who keeps who around?

And like the lyric, 'I know I could turn, blink, you'd be gone..." there must be more to it than 'thinking I'm your fool,' but what? Who fools whom, and what if the other person also feels comfort and pleasure too--what then? Does that go by the same name to describe a relationship?
Do they 'keep holding on'; rightfully so -- in faith and charity, cynically?

To give a response to all this meandering thought, Cistercian monk and writer, Thomas Merton wrote about obedience and acceptance; he explores the values of both. "We must be convinced that it is very profitable for us to exercise ourselves in obedience, even to commands that are not perfectly rational or prudent. In doing this, we are not blinding ourselves or telling ourselves lies about the case.
We simply accept the situation as it is, with all its defects, and obey for the love of God [the Creator]. In order to do so, we have to make a fully rational and free decision, which in some cases may be quite difficult."

"Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith (words, ideas) without works is useless?" -- the Bible, James 2:20