by Claudia Windal

Created on: October 11, 2010

I walked into my office recently and was greeted by a co-worker who appeared to be trying to smile. I asked if something was wrong and if there was anything that I could do to be of help. In a soft voice, John shared that he had received a phone call just before leaving for work. It was his brother telling him that their father had been moved from the nursing home to a local hospital and placed in intensive care because of respiratory problems. "John, what are you doing here then," I asked. He replied that he had no time off left until the end of the year and that he could not afford to miss his regular salary.

I invited John into my private office space, made coffee for us and began," John, let's take a look at what is expected of us here this week. I'm certain that Jan will come in for at least half days for a while; she's a great help in keeping me on track. I can rework some of my appointments and spread them out so that I am more available here at the office. We're a small firm and we have not faced a difficult time like this with any of our employees. You go home and be with you Dad and family and we will pay you your normal salary for two weeks. If you need more time, we'll see how we can accomodate that and keep you solvent." John began to protest and finally, he simply said, "I didn't think I would be able to leave today. Thank you, my dad will appreciate my being at the hospital." "Keep me informed John and know that I send my best wishes to your dad and family members."

John was indeed one of the poor, although not in a monetary sense. He, like countless of people every day, learned of the sudden illness of a family member, a tragic death of a close friend, the end of a marriage of a relative, loss of jobs, youth involved in drugs and crime and on....and on.....and on..... Each of these people are the poor. Their lives have been disrupted by circumstances beyond their control and they don't know to come to grips with these new realities. "There, but for the grace of God, go we." The next phone call could place us right along side of the rest of humankind suffering one of the many circumstances causing poverty.

I find the poor in those who come to me to care for their deceased family members. Because I work with economically fragile persons, I understand the monetary aspect of their poverty. I also feel the poverty of the loss of a family member. I stand by while parents look into the casket of their teenage son and can't help but see the seven gunshot

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