Oct 2011 update

Given my personal recovery and professional training, my interests are "helping those still suffering from addiction." The past couple of years however this goal has been taking a little different direction, that is desiring to train others to help those with addiction. A survey I consulted showed that 84% of people seeking help for personal problems initially sought contact with their pastor, priest, or rabbi. The same study also showed that only 12% of clergy had any formal training in addiction. Recently getting my doctorate helps qualify me to aspire to someday teaching such a course in a Seminary or University.

I was recently informed I will be included in the formation of a "Faculty" at First United to help train other interested church leaders and groups in helping the marginalized and addicted.  On Nov 8 and 15,  I will be holding another of my addiction workshops, this time at Evergreen Community Church in Ferndale WA.

This week I was privileged to be part of a 3 hour workshop with Bruce Alexander, author of The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit. This is the single most important book I have read on addiction and very pivotal in my interests serving in the DTES. There were only 9 people present giving us a chance to follow up on previous interactions through email while I was still in Oregon. We agreed to continue our dialog at the Dugout. You can follow some of Dr Alexander's contributions on my blog at Dislocation .

The next meeting of the Research and Direction advisory board will be November 3. Our discussions involve  treating addiction in the context of the First United Church community.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers, personal encouragement writing to me, and the financial support that is making all this possible. What an adventure!

"Being seen..."

Last week I was involved  in a two day workshop and staff training led by Ric Matthews, Executive Minister of Community Life.  Ric is from South Africa and has amazing insight from his experiences in the dissolution of Apartheid. He shared a Zulu greeting that sent excited shivers down my spine. If a Zulu were to greet me, he would say in his language, "I see you, Ross." My response would be "I am here."  If we met later, the greeting would be the same rather than just another possible hello as in Western culture. A basic sense of belonging and identity is to experience being seen or visible. Most words that follow "I am" are statements of identity.  Not belonging or dislocation of identity is at the roots of addiction.

Marginalized people are outside the margins of those we would categorize as mainstream or normal. Society tries to "fix" the marginalized,  assuming they can be rational. If this doesn't succeed  we "contain" them (low income housing, mental hospitals or incarceration). Those outside this marginalized group are the most troubled, disturbed and irrational. These are the homeless and addicted that First United serves in the Downtown Eastside (DTES).

Why this Zulu greeting gripped me so strongly was remembering a woman in DTES writing "how she would like to be acknowledged with a glance, a nod, a smile or even swore at which would be better than being ignored."  Research from neuroscience has shown that many in society have learned to ignore the marginalized so successfully, that blood doesn't even flow and activate the empathy centers of the brain when they encounter them. Thus the marginalized become "invisible."

The gospel (good news) is so much more than the discussion of salvation,  and describes the full life, death, resurrection, ascention and intervention of Jesus’ ongoing work on our behalf. To this marginalized population we need to "be the gospel"! Nowhere in the Bible does it indicate Christians doing triage, that is just working with those we think most likely will survive. How do we communicate to the marginalized "that we see them?" Consider seeing the damaged child in them.

To read some short personal stories of those living in DTES click Stories and then again on Stories in the top toolbar and then click on each photo.

Living Simple

A few of you have shared concerns about how I am managing living up here. That is, am I prepared for winter, do I feel claustrophobic living in a trailer etc? The picture shows my little corner of the world with all my earthly belongings (including my Cocker Spaniel, Dylan). The 5th wheel is 40' long and with the roll outs, I actually have 600 square feet with 9' ceilings in the kitchen / dining room, 8' ceilings in my bedroom that has a computer desk, queen sized bed and plenty of space for my 30" TV (where I get to watch my football favorites). There is a third room with two couches that make into double sized beds, another TV, stereo with surround sound and an electric fireplace. Lots of room for visitors (hint, hint).  Right across the alley is the Bay Cafe (great gourmet coffees) who allow me to use their WIFI which comes into the trailer. What more creature comforts could a man ask for!

I'm prepared for a predicted cold winter, have electric heat tape and insulation on the water lines and a 120 gallon propane tank for central heat. It was 32 degrees last night, feels like winter is right around the corner. I was able to pay off both vehicles and the trailer before I left Roseburg, which allows me to live economically. If you have any interest in my living expenses please go to my Budget.

I continue to feel more direction in the DTES. Next week I will be part of a two day staff retreat and training, and then on Oct 27, Bruce Alexander is presenting a workshop at the church. He is the author of The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit, the book that has influenced me the most in my pursuit of understanding addiction. We have corresponded through emails but this will be the first face to face interaction. I was so flattered that Dr. Alexander asked for a copy of my dissertation when I was still in Oregon.  You can look at some of his videos and his blog at Dislocation.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers, and financial support making it possible for me to serve the homeless and addicted in DTES.

Another Reminder

This is another reminder of the despair so prevalent in DTES. Black tar heroin comes from Latin America and is made bypassing extra steps that are used to refine white heroin. This makes it less expensive on the street. Tar collapses veins worse than any other drug that is injected.  It appeals to those who are most desperate on the horrific road to oblivion; that is not really caring if they live or die.

I thoroughly enjoyed the two day workshop last weekend, and left further energized about my interests integrating the science and theology of addiction. At times there was the disconnect of these two disciplines that often happens in discussions of addiction and recovery.  It was a great opportunity to network. A number of folks shared an interest in coming to visit me at the Dugout and take a tour of DTES.

The Research and Policy committee of First United Church met for the first time Tuesday.  Of the eight members, only the chairman Stephen Gray is staff. I am meeting some incredible folks with the heart to serve.   It felt great to be included, and by the grace of God, I feel I can make a valuable contribution.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers, and financial support that enable me to serve this way!

Ross