Week of October 18-24

Inasmuch as mercy is the willingness to enter into the chaos of another so as to respond to the other, mercy thickens justice by taking into account the chaos of the most marginalized.

James Keenan

Our ministry has been doing this now for the last 40 months since Hurricane Katrina. The difficulties seem to always come with a wonderful God lesson…

For many of us, proper health insurance is a luxury. We have spent much time offering different ideas to re-form our structure of care in the United States. But the real life experience of the poor must provide our guiding principles for creating community together.

By the grace of God is how we roll in New Orleans. Many people have asked, “How is your ministry funded? Or that sounds like great work, so who sponsors you?” Each time, we answer by the grace of God or God provides everything that we need. What is implied is that god provides our every need so that we can continue to be servants to one another.

Personally, I don’t have dental coverage. I’ve had this root canal that has needed to happen for 3 years now. The other day, I felt some of the nerve endings die, and I lost half of my tooth. When I sought out even charitable services, there was none available to me because I was not homeless, I was not pregnant, and I did not have HIV/AIDS.

During my scheduled visit to the San Francisco Bay Area I made it a point to seek out a free clinic. When I saw the dentist she confirmed that the tooth needs to be worked on or extracted. It was not long after we began scheduling future appointments that I told her that I live in New Orleans and was only here for a screening because I could see a professional.

She genuinely seemed concerned about New Orleans and asked about what I did and what I thought about the ongoing efforts of recovery. In fact, she even asked if we needed volunteer dentists! As her assistant giggled at the likelihood of that need because I came all the way to San Francisco to receive a free dental screening, I encouraged them both in their continued interest to serve the least of these… and that Contemplatives in Action could be their guide into making that happen.

That was a particular moment of grace. God truly does work in mysterious ways. When we believe that everything we have received are gifts, whether that be fear or joy, tears or smiles, pain or comfort, we can truly be grateful for making God’s love shine better in the hearts of all.

There is a reason we work in New Orleans dependent on God’s providence. There is a reason my decayed tooth led me create a space for professionals to consider their opportunities to serve the poor that they don’t even see or live with. And that reason is called merciful grace… a moment born out of being willing to enter into another person’s chaos and opening the hearts and minds of those who can make a difference.