Securing affordable, safe, stable
housing, a primary care physician, healthy food and a great attitude takes both
time and effort. For those living in
poverty, barriers include money, access to quality health care and transportation
make achieving wellness more difficult.
People in poverty mount these hurdles with Herculean
efforts. It doesn’t seem like much, but
taking the bus to and from a doctor’s office could equate to two hours out of a
person’s time schedule. If the
physician’s office is running on time, the visit should only take an hour. If they are running late though, it could be up
to three hours.
A Small Example
“You are changing my diet, Dr. Smith?” a patient asked.
“Yes,” he responds. “You
are not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
The last reading of your carbohydrates made me nervous, so change your
diet and delete all forms of carbs.”
“I wonder how much that is going to cost,” the patient mused.
It didn’t matter because she didn’t have enough food stamps
to purchase the necessary food alternatives for at least a week.
Pursuing Wellness
Wellness is defined many ways by different people. Definitions that combine exercise, healthy nutrition,
exercise with a balanced, stable self-image and mental health are
attractive. Yet, how are these goals
achieved when money is lacking, transportation is scarce and poor housing is
often a normal, challenging adventure?
Resiliency makes it possible for most people to bounce back
from the storms of life. But what if
your life is about daily making sure you have the resources necessary to pay
each bill, arrive at each doctor visit or sustain other forms of responsibility,
let alone wellness?
Tough.
Called to Service
I decided to volunteer a year of my life as a servant to the
federal government and 4,000 low-income, subsidized housing residents. This decision, initially motivated by a
desire to be gainfully employed, I have since second guessed a few times. Why? Because of the pay, my living conditions and my poor access to convenient transportation.
Yet, my first call to vocation was as a minister many years
ago. As a Christian, I believe that
followers of Christ are called to serve people.
The specific community or category of people may or may not be clear for
non-pastoral church leaders, such as myself.
In fact, after I graduated seminary, what I was specifically supposed to
do eluded me. I didn’t know who God
wanted me to help and who God wanted me to leave alone.
Gradually, I understood I first had to help myself. In learning how to love myself, I became able
and equipped to begin loving and serving others.
Defining Serve
It is interesting to note the word “serve”
comes from the Latin word “minister, be of service, wait on.” The Latin verb means “to wait on,” but the
noun means “to act on the authority of another.”
The English language uses “serve” as
a verb. It means to perform duties or
give a service to an organization or individual. Or, it could also mean “to provide a group of
people with a product or service.”
“You have not lived today until you
have done something for someone who
can never repay you.”
― John Bunyan
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In my role as Wellness Coordinator,
serving others means providing direction, encouragement, inspiration and/or
information. Providing something that
was not already present. In many cases,
this could simply mean providing hope.
VISTA
VISTA stands for Volunteers
In Service To America. This department of the government has worked
exclusively to end poverty since 1965.
(Ironically, that is the year I was born.)
What the organization gradually tells you is this: the pay, really called a living stipend,
covers your housing only. The idea is
that each worker will understand what it is like to live in poverty because the
stipend covers the bare minimum of American living expenses.
The Adventure Begins
The biggest challenge for me, thus far, is adequate,
affordable, safe, clean housing.
Intellectually, many of my friends, family members and peers
understand that poverty is bad. Poverty
is an unpleasant experience. The needs
of those in poverty are magnanimous. The
hearts of those in poverty are gentle, but glossed over with the scar tissue of
worry, fret and angst. The reality of
their situation, from the outside looking in, is grim. No wonder America’s forefathers and enslaved
ancestors turned to God for strength.
It was unimaginable to me that a decision to volunteer would
place me deeper in the trenches of a world filled with lack. Often, I covered up my lack of access to
money, transportation and healthcare with handouts from well-meaning friends
and family members. Often, I sold my
skills as a writer, editor and tutor to support myself.
But relocating to Berks County has forced my hand in
different ways. I have actually had to
go without! I have gone without food, safe, affordable
housing and medical care.
Ironically, in not having enough, I have discovered I have
more than enough. The room I rent has
been invaded by cockroaches (although they probably think I am infringing on
their privacy) and is, in my opinion, dark and dreary. The kitchen has too many roaches for my
tastes and the bathroom needs a whole lot of TLC.
Each morning when I awake, I pray to maintain my own sense of
wellness. I hear the lady next store
coughing like an uncontrollable child, doors slamming while I watch an
occasional roach scurry up my bedroom’s wall.
I thank God.
“Love is not
patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and
love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money
but reach out your hand instead.”
― Mother Teresa
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I thank God for a
warm place to sleep, a coffee pot in my room and a soon-to-come payday which
will produce poison for the roaches and Lysol for the walls. This brings me an inner comfort unknown to my
fellow “house dwellers.”
Then, I play my worship music, loud enough to enjoy, since I
have listened to all sorts of noises from 5 p.m. until 4 a.m. Fortunately, I slip farther into a peaceful
frame of mind as I prepare for yet another work day…a day of service.
My breakfast meal is healthy with just enough servings. My attitude is hopeful because I have a job
that could move me to a new housing arrangement. My emotions are managed because I am using
all the resources of my wellness kit to start the day strong, optimistic and
joyful.
Achieve Wellness in Poverty?
I believe “wellness” can be achieved no matter what a
person’s social or economic status.
Wellness is a choice – just like choosing to begin a weight loss program,
visiting the doctor regularly or taking diabetic medication.
My hope is that I can serve my site and the residents at my
location by being an encouraging, inspiring vision of hope and wellness. Hearing people share their lives with a
positive attitude, strong sense of self identity and general doses of gratitude
and acceptance will make me feel like I have done my part.
I bet the lessons I learn from serving my country the next 11
months will mature me in ways unforeseen.
Yet, I hope my year as a VISTA worker will impact other people to serve,
give or find gratitude for what they already have in their own lives.
Join me on this journey, if you will. I will try my best to be open, honest and
positive.
