Intro | Luke's List | Links | Photo Gallery | Of Note | Advocacy Corner for Homelessness | Success Stories | Speaker's Bureau | History of Black Miami

Of Note:

A Modern Parable of a Passage

April 20, 2011

by Dr. Paul R. Ahr

We are a people passing from one place to another, and this Lent we have been considering how to do that successfully. Emmaus Place has opened, and shortly we will begin to occupy our Shepherd's Court and Labre Place apartments. Next year we will relocate all the people and programs still based at our shelter to our new campus. Soon thereafter the shelter buildings will be no more; their future now measured in months and weeks. But as monumental as the obstacles have been to secure the approvals and get the funding and design and construct the buildings, a greater challenge looms. This will be the challenge to make possible at the our new Camillus campus a new thin place that “calls us, fetches us, offers us the startling gift of grace, gets lodged deep in our inmost selves,” a place that “tells us, here, this is what Love tastes like, this is what Love's supposed to be.”

The parable.

Last October 13th, I walked into the shelter dining room around 8 o’clock in the morning. There about three dozen of our Courtyard guests attentively watched a live TV broadcast of Chilean miners being rescued after being trapped underground for nearly 10 weeks. I was immediately struck by the parallels between what was happening in a remote area of Chile and what happens every day at Camillus House in downtown Miami. “You are them,” I told our clients, “you have been in a remote and dark place, perhaps by yourselves, perhaps with others. You have hoped for, perhaps even prayed for a way out. ‘If only there were a capsule that would take me from the darkness – psychological as well as physical – to the light,’ you may have cried out in despair. Camillus House is that capsule,” I continued, “we are the way out. Today – this morning – you are in a capsule too, and all you need to do is say, ‘I am ready to be lifted up from my life on the street to my true station of hope, dignity, health and membership in the community of healthy, dignified and hopeful people.’ We realize that the journey out of darkness may be scary,” I told them, “but we have made all the preparations needed for a safe and successful passage to a new life. Camillus House is the capsule. Tell us when you are ready to begin your journey.”

Three lessons plus one.

For the past 40 days we have reflected on four lessons about successful transformation made available to us in our Judeo-Christian heritage:

1. Major change involves both holding on to the important things and letting go of the rest. When we relocate to our new Camillus House we will let go of the physical aspects of our current shelter building. And, we will bring with us: the charisms, or special gifts, of the Brothers; our guests and clients; our volunteers and staff; our traditions and standards; our appreciation for our benefactors; and our love for persons who are homeless.

2. Successful adjustment to change often includes periods of success and setback. Personally and organizationally, successful adaptation to change is an ongoing journey not a jaunt; a passage fraught with ambivalence, indecision and some mistakes. We know we must persevere in the face of adversity in pursuit of our goal.

3. A journey is made easier when shared with companions. We – Brothers, Board members, other benefactors, volunteers and staff – look forward to joining our civic and professional partners in this important transformation. But most of all, we are eager to be joined by persons who are poor and homeless in Miami, as we help them build new lives characterized by hope, dignity, health and full membership in our community.

Since 1984, we have waited and made ready to move from our outmoded and overcrowded shelter to a new Camillus House. So to all who are willing to help us re-create on NW 7th Avenue the special – thin – place the Brothers of the Good Shepherd, our benefactors, volunteers and staff have created over the past 50+ years on NE 1st Avenue, here is the fourth lesson, which is our pledge to you and the persons we serve:

4. We have made preparations for a safe and successful passage with our companions - persons who are poor and homeless in Miami - and with all who strive to be their hosts, helpers, and healers. We are in the capsule and we are ready for our journey.

As Christians around the world celebrate Easter this Sunday, we recall that Christ’s “Last Supper” was a Passover Seder during which He and His friends commemorated their forbearers’ escape from slavery in Egypt. This week we wish both a Happy Passover and a Blessed Easter to all persons.