By Julian Washio-Collette (right: with his wife, Lisa), on behalf of Casa de Clara, the San Jose Catholic Worker community (originally posted in the Fall Newsletter)

Everywhere in these days people have…ceased to understand that the true security is to be found in social solidarity rather than in isolated individual effort. But this terrible individualism must inevitably have an end, and all will suddenly understand how unnaturally they are separated from one another. It will be the spirit of the me, and people will marvel that they have sat so long in darkness without seeing the light.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Our friend Angie called this afternoon. She has been staying at a local shelter for the past couple of months and has been calling us regularly just to check in. Amazingly, she has been clean and sober since she arrived at the shelter, and has seen other remarkable health improvements. When I talk to her, her voice is clear, her mind is lucid, and she is in an upbeat mood. In other words, she seems like a completely different person from the Angie we know who comes to our door pushing her shopping cart, slurring her words, speaking incoherently, rambling about what to us sound like paranoid delusions. Continue reading “Our Seemingly Small Gestures” →