Thursday, July 29, 2010

The 'normal' psychology of poverty

Poverty happens everywhere and anytime. In these economic times homelessness can land on normal people as suddenly as closing a deal or hitting the lottery. Herein lies the paradox... and begs the question - what is normal? "Normal" is often nothing more than our own image or persona projected on another. We have all said "if I were you" in an attempt to help. But how often is our advise taken? Not very. This is because we tell people what WE would and could do and not what THEY would or could possibly be ready to do. We all abide by social norms as a rule, but personal normal is as diverse as fingerprints and snowflakes.

Mental illness in the homeless has always been a snake that eats its own tail. It is the chicken or the egg, the cause and the effect. The new poor are not mentally ill but victims of society's ills.


Our task is not to compell them to be as we but to care for them as "normal" persons ought.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Introducing Brothers Keeper Ministries

Born out of the experience of the soul, Brother's Keeper Ministries is a counseling and social action networking ministry serving locally on Virginia's Eastern Shore and globally via the World Wide Web.

We,the founders of BKM are very familiar with the issues of the poor after our family lost everything due to serious storm damage to our home and the sagging economy. We are still recovering and have seen seculars give heroicly and the religious react negatively toward our trial. They vowed to be "red letter" Christians in our approach to the poor and to life.

It is true that "it takes one to know one." We never understood homelessness until we were homeless.

Joe is a Spiritual Director, with degrees in Bible and Christian Counseling and an M.Div. in Pastoral Counseling and graduate studies in Spiritual Direction, Theology, and Jungian Studies. His desire is fueled by an auditory word from God telling him, "Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey." (3 John 6) He has been on staff at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Spiritual Guidance. He has been a spiritual warfare counselor in several churches and is a certified Behavioral Analyst.

Mitzi is degreed in vocational Missions and has continually worked with Food Bank and Hospitality ministries.