Spirit Sleuths: Detectives on the Track of the Holy

Donna Schaper wrote in a wonderful book entitled "A Book of Common Power" many years ago of what she called Spirit Sleuths: Detectives on the Track of the Holy. I love that expression. It seems like an apt description of what the calling of Christians is in this world. It reminds me of the Gandhi poster on the wall in my study which says, "Real Beauty is My Aim." Real Beauty and the Holy are pretty closely related.

I saw a play tonight entitled "Underneath the Lintel" -- during this one act play at the IRT the librarian tells the story of a character who is standing under the lintel of his shop when Jesus collapses under the weight of his cross right in front of him. The story goes, the librarian says, that the shopkeeper won't offer to lend a helping hand to the burdened brother on the ground -- because he wants to keep the rules and because he is afraid of death -- of being killed by the authorities if he lends a hand.

I seems like to me that this is exactly why we don't train our eyes on the Holy. Instead we fall back on "well -- it's against the rules" or "I'm afraid" to keep us from seeing the gift that is right there before us. By "it's against the rules" I mean that sense of order and convention that keeps us from seeing the giftedness right in front of us. By "I'm afraid" -- I mean a few more things -- some of which include -- a fear of upsetting others -- a fear of "if I do this, then my life will never be the same." But mostly I just think we aren't used to stepping out from underneath the lintel.

This is certainly clearly (and from my perspective, universally) true in regards to the way we treat the poor. There are many folks who are marginalized for a lot of reasons: sexuality, age, ethnicity, sex, disability - but it is the poor who seem over and over again to have folks not seeing them as beloved children of God with an abundance of gifts to share that it would be a sin to waste.

I often find myself talking with groups: secular and faith-based on the topic of working with the poor. In the last couple of weeks I have interviewed some seminarians for an internship position at the church. Both of them told me that one of the reasons that Broadway is attractive to them is because "you're inner-city." What do you mean by "inner city" I ask them. And for a moment there is a little confusion in their eyes. Then both of them told me -- in separate interviews that they wanted to be able to "help those who are poor." Well...now -- that's a fine sentiment -- but I don't think that's being a spirit sleuth. It may be functioning as a "compassion sleuth" -- but that's not the same thing. The problem with such a thought is that the good religious folk see themselves as helpers and the poor saps they are helping as "needy." Whatever happened to "we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?"

If there is something that the church really NEEDS today it is the eyes to see the gifts of the poor in our midst. Why? Because Jesus promises us the abundant life here and now -- in the midst of struggle, injustice, disease and captivity. Because we are called to live as if that abundance is real. But we don't. We don't.

The church so often simply sees the poor as objects to be served -- not as sisters and brothers who we are tied to in "an inescapable network of mutuality." (as Dr. King reminded us) And when we don't live like that, it not only is a shame, it's a sin. And we all end up poorer for it. It's as if God poured an abundance in our hands and we walked away. It's not "as if" -- it is what we are literally doing.

It's so easy to think about running a day care for kids than it is looking for the holy in the lives of their parents. It's easy to think about running a "Life Skills Program" for adults -- than it is to take the time to really get to listen and know the "skills" someone already has and how they are using them for their family, themselves, or even for strangers.

Being spirit sleuths means seeing past people's weaknesses, illnesses, sin and problems. It doesn't mean denying those things -- but it does mean trusting Jesus that today (not yesterday, not at the Second Coming) that God has announced good news to the poor and recovery of sight to the blind and release to the captive. Seeing that...watching for that...now that is doing something worthwhile. Yes, Jesus did say "feed the hungry and clothe naked" -- but why do we focus on that one time he said that and not pay attention to all his eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners? Even when we do eat together -- overwhelmingly we good church folk invite people to eat with us at the church. God's feast is a moveable one. And Jesus' meals seem to be happening in people's home...surely that might be a clue to try something.

One of the things Rachel has done really well at the church these past few months is lead us in thinking about God's Moveable Feast...because of her challenge we are having people come together across all sorts of boundaries to eat together and talk together. Why? I'd say because Rachel is a Spirit Sleuth -- and she recognizes that there are a whole lot more of them out there doing good work...