April, 2008

I am pleased to share the following reflection on Karen House by Toria Rendell, who took Social Justice in the fall of 2007.

I had the privilege of spending over 35 hours this semester at Karen House, a Catholic Worker House for homeless women and children. I set off the fire alarm, gave gum to a little boy when I wasn’t supposed to, made about 10 pounds of unnecessary banana bread, and watched concerned but mostly helpless as certain children decided to pinch and hit each other. Most would laugh if I tried to describe that as “service.” But “insertion” is just right. I most certainly inserted myself into an environment I have never experienced. I was in a foreign place to me, so naturally I learned and grew.

At the beginning, I was apprehensive. I didn’t know what to expect from the house, from the residents, or from the children. I really didn’t even know what would be expected of me. Knowing Dr. Chmiel went to Karen House weekly made me even more nervous because in the end I would be writing about a location he’s familiar with. He could judge what I say more critically—what if I say something about Karen House that’s not correct? He would know everything about the experiences at Karen House. Of course I didn’t know then what I know now. There’s no possible way Dr. Chmiel can already know everything about my experience at Karen House because it has been such a personal experience. Karen House has same physical location for both of us, but gives different experiences. What we take from our time there is unique to us. Even when I go with Kelly and we talk about it afterwards, I realize this. We saw the same things, talked to almost all the same people, did the same things, but the things that stuck out to her are different from what stuck with me.
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The following are Commonplace Book passages and commentaries by Brittany Accardi, who took Social Justice in spring 2007.

Poverty and Riches/1 Interview Pages 33-34

“The things I notice the most seem like a joke. That is, here in the United States the most sought-after foods are low-calories. The most valued food in poor countries is food with calories. It’s understandable, but it’s an incredible contradiction. Here, the people want to eat food with as few calories as possible to not gain more weight and people in poor countries try to eat food with many calories to gain at least a little bit of weight. We come from very different contexts…The United States does have a very big influence. I believe that through the means of communication, such as the TV, the North American way of life is very present among other peoples. Some of the positive values are present here, but also many limits, such as when people from out cultures want only to imitate the North American way of life.”

This passage describes a very clear contradiction that it seems Americans should be aware of and yet it still seems that most of our country is so blind to it. I took a phone call in the middle of copying this passage, and in crossing the magazine racks at Barnes and Nobles I passed multiple covers about fat-burning exercises and slimming techniques. We are so narrow-minded. I feel like just being aware of the situation of people in other countries would prompt Americans psychologically to stop downing so much food and realize that their biggest problem shouldn’t be keeping weight off. And yet we are surrounded by excess due to the nature of our culture. The other part that struck me about this passage was the imbalance of communication and exposure of contrasting cultures. Sure, we have the news, but we aren’t exposed to the lifestyles of those in other countries. And I am sure that many Americans are unaware that our lifestyles are exposed and mimicked by those in other cultures. Why can’t there be more equal exchange? I think, for Americans at least, it would provide a greater understanding of our own culture, seeing it reflected through another group of people.

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Mark,

I am entirely unsure where to even begin. So many thoughts, ideas, revelations, and emotions have surfaced through my mind since I read The Book of Mev. I guess it is only appropriate for me—at this particular time—to speak in general, of the overall picture and impression that has been rumbling through my existence since my encounter with the book.

First, it is absolutely liberating to be faced with people such as Mev and yourself, in such intimate detail—being able to recognize triumphs as well as flaws. So often we are faced with this ridiculous illusion that “holy” or “spiritual” people are perfect, without flaw, and “god-like.” As I reflect on the personal spirituality throughout the book, in the lives of all the people that a reader comes into contact with, I realize such a simple and profound reality: That nobody is entirely perfect—and that we all have something incredible to offer to the world.

This leads me to the issue of vocation. We often separate a vocation from a “job” as if they are two entities. Mostly, we think of a vocation as being something given to us by God—our purpose in life, as if a vocation is something truly spectacular, that not everyone achieves in life. Seeing the vocational struggles, and uncertainty throughout the book is a marvelous breath of fresh air for those of us searching for our own life vocation. As I am preparing for the Episcopal priesthood, I have always been careful to steer away from terminology such as “I am discerning a ‘call’” or “I have a calling.” This terminology lends a presumption of superiority—as if, “God picked me because I’m special”. Of course, this isn’t the case. I noticed this in its truest and simplest form in reading The Book of Mev. Everyone has a “calling.” The world needs people with all types of gifts and abilities: Every single one of those gifts and abilities are important, and if we fail or stumble on the journey, it’s okay. I think that The Book of Mev profoundly echoes C.S. Lewis’ comment that “If the will to walk is really present, God is pleased even with your stumbles.”

Thank you Mark, for this book, a truly wonderful gift. It has truly been a pleasure to read, touch, see, and intimately feel.

– Portia is a junior at Creighton University and hopes to attend Episcopal Seminary in the near future.

by Allison Kinney

When Mark Chmiel visited our class a few weeks ago, he asked us what questions we have been thinking about over the past semester. The first question I wrote down in my notebook was, “How do I seek and appreciate beauty and love in a world of ugliness and hate?” Though it was asked rhetorically, I do believe there are individuals who have lived the answers and their very lives are a witness to their accomplishment. The life of Mev Puleo is a testament to the ability to embrace the joys of life, while not shutting her eyes to misery and suffering.

Mev saw the world. Like a sponge, she soaked up the despair of the children in Rio de Janeiro, the suffering of Haitains, the homeless of Saint Louis, and the joy of being in love with Mark, spending time with the Arco Angels, drinking coffee at Au Bon Pain. No stranger to the two different worlds she was living in, she learned a way to live in both without denying either. She celebrated Mozart even when others said there was no Mozart. I, too, want to celebrate Mozart and Mev is teaching me how.

I distinctly remember telling a friend a few months ago (prior to Mev) that I did not think I could ever be truly happy or peaceful until everyone in the world also was happy and at peace. And since I knew for a fact there was great suffering and misery in the world, I thought I was limited to two options: close my eyes to the suffering and be happy, or be aware of the suffering and forego my own happiness. These options sound quite foolish to me now because Mev has taught me the importance and possibility of celebrating Mozart amidst despair. She writes, “there were days in Barrio Liberdade when Mozart soared in the crackle of slapping spoons the outburst of dance in church…” I do not have to choose between joy and ignorance. Mev did not choose, instead, she followed the advice of Wendell Berry, “Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts.”
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Saturday 5 April 2008

Thanks to my French teacher Anne Marie Karpinsky for introducing me to Apollinaire, Eluard, and Prevert. They echo in me still….

From neo-Confucian scholar Chu Hsi: In reading, you must keep your mind glued to the text. Only when every sentence and every character falls into place have you done a good job of thinking through the work. In general, the student should collect his mind, so that it’s completely tranquil and pure and in its normal activity and tranquility doesn’t run wild or become confused. Only then will he understand the text in all of its detail. Reading like this, he’ll understand the essentials. From Learning to Be a Sage: Selections from the Conversations of Master Chu, Arranged Topically, translated with a commentary by Daniel K. Gardner.

by Chirssy Maher

Reading The Book of Mev has made me feel elated, angry, pathetic, lonely, and even hopeful (which is rather odd for me – I’m kind of a pessimist – working to get over that). What I’ve written is not mind blowing or eloquent. It’s just one of the larger things I have gotten out of The Book of Mev and that really speaks to me at this moment.

Mev is clearly an amazing and compassionate person. Mark, you are too. You’ve turned a horrible loss into something that truly helps others. You’re letting us into your and Mev’s most personal thoughts, quirks, challenges, everything. Anyone who reads knows this. Thank you for your openness.

What really moves me in The Book of Mev is love – for self, family and friends, and strangers. I find the photo of you and Mev in the beginning of the book, under the quote, “Be in love with yr life” so striking. You and Mev truly appear in love with life. Your words demonstrate that. I want that love. I’ve been going through a difficult time in my so-called love life while reading The Book of Mev. I remember reading on the train ride home from Chicago with the sun looking so beautiful on the stumps of corn stalks. I would read then stare out the window thinking about my life and where it is going. I don’t know where I want it go, but I know it is not where I currently am. Mev is an inspiration in confidence and passion. I want my passion back. I want to have love like that between you and Mev. I decided on that train ride that I will not settle in any way. I want to be with someone who makes me want to be a better person. I want someone who takes me out of my bubble. I want someone who amazes me. I wonder if that kind of magical love is rare. Anyways, I’ll quit rambling. That photo just sums up The Book of Mev for me. Perhaps it’s a sign that I need to put more of my love out into the world.

Chrissy Maher graduated from SLU in 2007 and is Membership Coordinator for the Illinois Environmental Council.

Last semester, I had the pleasure of having Kristin Swanson in my Social Justice class. She spent her insertion being at Karen House, and shared with me the following appreciation of her time at 1840 Hogan Street. (Passages in quotation marks are excerpts from the journal Kristin kept during the semester.)

Nothing is more practical than finding God,
that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.
what you are in love with, what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends,
what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything

– Pedro Arrupe, S.J.

Nothing is more practical than finding God,

a God that is beautiful. God who is a community, each person pulling their own weight and adding their own experiences. Each person loving you fully, with hardly any reason, for of course you’ve only just met. God that shows herself in the begging questions of men at the door, “Could I have some sandwiches please?” and in the struggle of trying to say: “Yes, but I want to give you so much more.”

The practically of God is found in the fight for peace, in the community, and in the world. Where else do we turn when we are beat-up and broken? Is there anywhere else to turn? We have no answers, and so we look towards God, towards this community.

God is found in the laughter of children, sharp and bright; striking your ears each morning and singing you to sleep at night.

God is found in a hug from a small woman in a wheelchair who means with sincerity when she says “I love you. You’re so bright.”

God is found in the in-between. In the messes and the decaying flowers in the dining room. In the screaming and the tears. In the 18th and 19th sandwiches. In the hugs and kisses, even when they are slobbery. In the smoke of a cigarette. In the strong cup of coffee shared with a new friend.

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