‘Steps toward peace’ Archives
Peace House community: They aren”™t just ”˜The Homeless”™
By Marti Malby “The Homeless,” a title that should only describe a person”™s living situation, but often describes so much more. On the one hand, being part of the homeless population automatically means sleep deprivation, instability, the daily challenge of finding what you need and so much more. Unfortunately, that is only the objective side of homelessness, the things that can be observed and measured. There”™s also a subjective side that can be even more destructive. Sociologists and others talk about “Labeling Theory” which states among other things that the label a society places on a group within society becomes a shorthand for and an oversimplification of everyone in that group. When someone becomes part of “The Homeless,” that person finds that society no longer sees them as an individual. Instead, they are now simply part of a mass with no identity of their own. Worse yet, because of American [...]
Peace House community: Nobody wants to feel like they”™re nobody
Photos by Mike Hazard By Mike Hazard David A. De Lampert Jr. has peace on his mind. “I do a lot to make sure in my soul I don”™t let nobody steal my peace.” “We are so hard on each other. Nitpicking, always looking for what”™s wrong and put someone down. People don”™t know how to forgive.” “When they come here, I come here (to the Peace House), I want to see that smile, for just one moment. The roughest cat in the world sitting down there, to see him smile, or her, I want to see that peace on them. Because I know when we go back out there, we go into a jungle, into a world, something where none of us really knows what”™s up the road.” Maybe you”™ve seen David out and about? He”™s been living on the streets of Minneapolis for over 30 years. A veteran, he survives on disability checks and through gratuities people offer him. He spends his days inviting people to sign [...]
Steps towards peace: So what should we talk about?
By MARTI MALTBI Photo by Mike Hazard Each day that Peace House Community is open, we host a “meditation” for our guests, volunteers and community members. It isn”™t meditation in the traditional sense; we focus on one topic and discuss it as a group to help us understand each other and develop a great respect for the people and world around us. The discussions last 20 to 35 minutes, and it is one of the hallmarks of our community. Sister Rose Tillemans founded PHC with the intention of giving a forum to marginalized women and men who were generally ignored by the larger society. She also wanted to promote relationships in a safe context, making individuals feel comfortable with exploring their own thoughts and feelings in a supportive setting. Having been at PHC for a little over a year now, I”™ve come to respect Sister Rose”™s wisdom in weaving a deliberate time of reflection and sharing into her vision. The discussions have [...]
