My brother and sister-in-law just spent two weeks in Iran. The first comment both made to me was how friendly and welcoming Iranians are—something I’ve heard a lot from people who’ve visited the country.
Being welcoming is a huge part of cultures across the Middle East, both Persian and Arabic. While visiting my parents in the United Arab Emirates a few years ago we were invited to an Emirati family’s home. I was warned beforehand—keep some food on your plate and drink in your cup, or they will keep filling it. Many cups of coffee and two enormous platters of food later, I understood. It turns out visiting can be dangerous, because of the overload of kindness offered to all, even strangers.
All that stuck in my head while I was working on this edition’s feature article on homelessness and the work of Epsom Lodge.
Homelessness is a big topic of conversation at the moment. The talk has mostly been about providing enough houses for people. What Epsom Lodge reminded me is, homelessness is rarely as simple as just not having somewhere to live. And there are far deeper issues in our society that we need to talk about.
A regular theme I heard from people at Epsom Lodge was that they had been looking for somewhere to belong. They felt they never fit, and felt worthless, in a society where often the more their problems mounted the more they were looked down on.
In contrast, after three weeks meeting homeless Aucklanders, TV3 journalist Mike Wesley-Smith wrote this about a group living in their cars: ‘If these were the people society forgot, they didn’t forget each other. They cooked together, kept the surrounding park tidy and even cleaned the local toilets each morning.’
Ensuring enough affordable houses for everyone is something governments and councils can and should address. But a roof can’t give you counselling, and hugging a wall won’t cure loneliness.
Feeling like you belong, you’re welcome and have worth is something the whole of society is responsible for.
Robin Raymond
Bible verse
James 2:26 The Living Bible
‘Just as the body is dead when there is no spirit in it, so faith is dead if it is not the kind that results in good deeds.’
Hemi 2:26
‘Ka rite hoki ki te tinana ka mate nei ki te kāhore te manawa ora, waihoki ko te whakapono, ki te kāhore he mahi, he mea mate.’