Invisible People

Last Sunday the gospel reading was from Luke 16:19-31 where Jesus tells the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. During his life, Lazarus was like the people who stand at intersections today asking for money, the people we avert our eyes from as we drive by. The pastor's sermon was based on these verses and talked about the "invisible people" we encounter daily. He and his wife went on a "Journeys of Paul" Greek island cruise this month and he spoke of the service personnel on the ship who came from all over the world and worked for minimal wages to ensure the comfort of the passengers. He and his wife are the types of people who seek out and show interest in the lives and stories of service workers. These people are often overworked, abused by customers and are the working poor of our society. 

This week I had three homeless people from our community as patients, each with challenging hospital discharge issues. Homelessness is increasing as housing prices soar and landlords look for ways to evict long-term tenants who pay lower rents. The homeless population includes people with mental illness, abusive and violent childhood histories, substance abuse issues, chronic physical illness,  and lack of family or social support. Unfortunately, this group also includes students who cannot find or afford housing and single seniors with low incomes. The lists for subsidized housing in our region are years long. There are no easy fixes for adults with problems that contribute to homelessness. Overcoming dysfunctional backgrounds and substance abuse is challenging. One of my middle-aged patients has struggled through life suffering the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and childhood sexual abuse. They require more than affordable housing and few people would be equipped to care for their complex emotional, physical and social needs at this stage of their life. Effective interventions were needed decades ago. 

I drove around the city the other day to look at the places where my patients had been living. There are several tent cities that have expanded during the summer months. Our downtown park is home to a growing number of tent inhabitants. Our region has erected "A Better Tent City" composed of a group of tiny houses that is in our neighbourhood. One of my young patients lived in a tiny house here with her mother. Three school portables are now on the property; one with showers, one with laundry facilities, and the other with a kitchen where volunteers provide meals for the residents. We live in an affluent community and there are resources to share. We also have people who care about our marginalized citizens. 

Today is Canada's second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as we recognize the legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system. While we observe the past abuse toward indigenous people, we realize that systemic racism, gender discrimination, economic inequality, and working-class abuse are rampant around the world today. Protections provided by a strong family unit and a caring community are not there for too many people. 

All week I have been trying to notice the invisible people around me, from the man sleeping in a dew-soaked blanket along the trail I ride to work to the Amazon delivery man who works long hours to deliver our "free" packages. We can value minimum-wage workers, thank them for their service and tip them well. While I cannot fix many underlying problems, recognizing the worth of each person, being kind and generous and taking time to listen to them is a place to start. 

No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;

    lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free,

    and remove the chains that bind people.

7 

Share your food with the hungry

    and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them,

    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Feed the hungry,

    and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness,

    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

Isaiah 58: 7,8,10 NLT