Working with poor shifts views
Many years ago in my 20s, I visited the Shelby County Cemetery, also known as Potters Field. It was a final resting place for the poor, homeless and many unidentified persons, including babies who died at birth.
As I stopped at one particular burial site, I wondered whether the deceased had family or friends. The grave could have been that of a man, woman or child. I guess no one knew, as there was no name or grave marker.
There was probably just a burial, no words spoken about the “good times,” the happy or joyous times, spending holidays and good meals with family or friends, a favorite trip or favorite dessert or season of the year.
Some might say “this person had not a soul in the world.” That’s not true. God gives each of us a soul. I believe having souls gives us a kinship.
As I tried to research that particular grave site, I thought of Matthew 5:3, which says the “poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.” This must have been a special person.
Now, as I wonder about this soul, I wonder about myself and my soul.
So much has changed in my life and society since my visit to that person’s grave. I wonder: Did I ever see this person? Did I show dignity and respect and call this person by name? Did I ever give any needed food, shelter, clothes? Or was I too busy?
Like all cities, ours has many who are poor or homeless. I think specifically of homeless women and children. Some of our neighbors live by eating out of dumpsters. Many are sexually abused.
Sometimes I get discouraged and think we can’t make a difference. Then I think about the people we serve at St Patrick’s Church Outreach Center in the poorest ZIP code in Memphis – 38126. It is such a blessing to serve our neighbors.
We often ask the people we serve with food, clothing and shelter how they are doing. The most frequent answer is, “I am blessed.” I often think about how we can help in serving dignity. I try and learn their names.
Truth is, we serve a pretty highend clientele – those who will “inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Decades after my visit to Potters Field, I have thoughts about my own funeral. I want to leave off the trappings of a prestigious funeral.
I do want the collection basket to be passed around and the money be used to help the poor. I want there to be a funeral mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in the poorest ZIP code in Memphis.
Let the meal of mercy be in the outreach center and open the doors to the neighborhood. Let the pastor plan a full meal and line up volunteers. Serve and they will come. Some will be wearing clothes, socks and shoes we collected and gave away. If it’s cold, their most valued possession, their warm blankets a donor sent money in for, will be on their shoulders. They will feel the dignity as those serving ask, How are you doing?
Some will not attend because so many of us worked together to “Drive Their Dream,” and we helped design a path for the impoverished to be selfsufficient and they will be at work.
In the meantime, please consider how we can work and walk together now and serve the “poor in spirit.” We do have a kinship. As Jesus said in Matthew’s gospel: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Richard C. ‘Dick’ Hackett is executive director of Catholic Charities of West Tennessee and former mayor of Memphis.