Spiritual Perspectives
In the Manner of Francis

By Don Steele
Special to The Independent

This past week on Oct. 4, we just celebrated the anniversary of the birth of St. Francis of Assisi, surely one of the most beloved religious figures who crosses boundaries of race, denomination, and religion. Whether we are Native American, Hispanic, African-American or Anglo, whether our spirituality is Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Traditional Native, we are likely both to have some awareness of St. Francis and some affinity with his commitments.

Francis tried to live his spirituality in every aspect of his life, and he was committed to simplicity, to inclusion, to love for the environment and every living creature. He could just as easily have been Navajo or Zuni or Arab as Italian, and there is something that resonates for virtually all of us in his dedication to the poor, to those who were sick, to the wholeness of the community that he exemplified. Most of us know the story of his care for the people of Gubbio who were being terrorized by a fierce wolf that attacked and ate villagers. He told the people that “you must feed your wolf.” Reluctantly they put out food for the wolf each night outside their houses, and the wolf was no longer hungry and no longer harmed any of the people.
Such kindness and awareness of the needs of those around us is equally important in Gallup today. In our midst there are those who are hungry, homeless, struggling with addictions, victims of domestic violence and abuse. Unless we feed the needs that lead to these unacceptable conditions, we too, will know the wolves of violence, despair, broken homes and lives.

One organization that is trying to mobilize us to respond to these needs is CARE 66. Although most of us know the name, few of us know what this organization has done in concrete terms in the past few years. In 2006-2007 alone, this organization has mobilized approximately $10 million dollars in foundation and governmental funds for Capital expenditures to provide permanent low-cost housing for 50 families, 15 veterans, and 33 individuals. Many of these units are “green” units, meaning environmentally friendly in the spirit of St. Francis. This is not program money, only the money to build the facilities, but over 100 persons who would have had no “home” will have a new possibility. In order to continue these efforts, the community of Gallup needs to provide the support for social services, staffing, meals, utilities, and training.

In September alone, residents of CARE 66’s transitional housing worked more than 1000 hours in the community, spent 501 bed nights and had warm meals for food that would have otherwise have been unavailable. One opened a new savings account and five people obtained permanent housing. Twenty-two persons received job enhancement skills, five received new job placements and, 19 attended regular AA/NA meetings as a support to maintaining sobriety. These are persons of courage, perseverance and hard work.

In turn this community provided 120 volunteer dinners, and 90 hours of community volunteer service. The residents themselves added 23 volunteer hours and CARE 66 staff contributed another 15 hours above their regular work.

The wolves of hunger and homelessness, addiction and lack of self-esteem were fed and the difference is apparent not only in the lives of the individuals but in the community healing as well.

We have further opportunities coming up in the near future to help with the day –to-day expenses of CARE 66. On Oct. 26th at 7 p.m. at El Morro Theater there will be a fun family Halloween event, “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” There will be costume contests and treats and the proceeds ($5 per ticket) go to help meet the daily expenses of CARE 66. Then on Saturday, Nov. 24 is the Annual Gala event. There will be fabulous food and entertainment with musician and comedian Wayland Picard. This is an opportunity for the business and professional community to show it’s support as well as the help of individuals. If you can purchase a table or a ticket, call CARE 66 at 722-0066, or volunteer time or a meal or your help for many other activities. If we feed the wolf of Gallup in the Spirit of St. Francis, the wolf will become our friend, and we will be the stuff of legends as well! St. Francis would be proud.

Rev. Don Steele is pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gallup. His email is steele1217@earthlink.net and the telephone is (505) 722-3247.

This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues. For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.