So one off-campus activity that I get to enjoy every other Wednesday is serving dinner at the Delonis Center Community Kitchen - pretty good times (if you ever want to join in, let me know). Last week, while washing chicken breasts in the industrial-sized sink (100 chicken breasts! How many times will I ever be able to do that again?!), I overheard the conversation of a dad/daughter team that happened to be there that night too, standing behind me cutting up squash. I haven't been able to shake it.
Dad: "Huh, that's interesting. You'd think they'd be more thankful about it."
Daughter: "What?"
Dad: "Well, the guy who was there in line for dinner, someone handed him a piece of cake, but he said "No, I don't want that one - I want that one", and kept pointing until he got what he wanted. I mean, you'd think, hey, they're getting a free meal, shouldn't they be more, ya know, humble about it?"
Daughter: "Hmm...yeah."
Confession: when I first started volunteering at the Community Kitchen last year, I felt the exact same way as the Dad above. I was kind of taken aback my first night there when the people standing in line were even offered a choice about which dessert they got (doughnut holes or cherry pie?). My thinking, I regret to say, was much along the same lines: beggars can't be choosers, right?
I'm sorry if this sounds really, really base to anyone reading. I'm talking about a piece of dessert. But really, it's more than that. It's about the attitude that basically is saying "You don't have money. You don't deserve a choice." I'm bothered by the way that this attitude contributes to dehumanization. Money means choice (in a lot of ways, this is true). But to prevent someone from choosing the kind of food that they eat simply because they are not in the same socioeconomic boat that I am runs on the dehumanizing scale. Part of serving at the Community Kitchen is just that: serving! Everyone deserves a decent meal. It may take more time to get everyone served, but giving people a simple choice such as which dessert they choose, or whether they want the chicken or the beef entree, or "no cheese on top of the potatoes, thank you", in a way reaffirms the humanity that our culture strips away from them daily, and [hopefully] humbles those who serve them.
And as far as the expectation that people receiving a free meal should be humble about it? It's like saying "Hey, we're gonna give you a free meal, but first you must verbalize your position in our society - let us know that you're thankful for this meal that we are serving you. That's right...we're serving it to you." No. When you serve, you serve, no matter what the outlook of the people you are serving (the best example being Jesus on the cross - here is the whole world hating him, and yet he dies for them anyway, friends betraying him and all...in fact, it was more than service, it was sacrifice).
Thoughts? Criticisms? All are welcome.
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2 comments:
Thanks for that Catherine! I do agree with you, and that's a great reminder for me. I hope things are going well for you!
Chara
I confess I've always looked at it from the dad's perspective. This was very insightful - that the lack of choice is denying them their human dignity and rights. Lots to chew on...thanks for the post!
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