The Outcasts

I recently finished reading the book, In the Sanctuary of Outcasts, by Neil White. It is the story of a New Orleans socialite who goes to prison for bank fraud. He is sentenced to a year in Carville minimum security prison in Carville, LA. What is unique about this prison is it is also home to hundreds of leper patients. Carville prison was also the United States last leprosarium at the time(It is no longer open). It is a story of one man's redemption through the outcasts and how these leper patients change his life. Originally repulsed by them and afraid he would catch the disease from them he moves to a place of love for these people, and is transformed by their care for him.

He goes to church with these people, takes communion with them, and sees God's love through them. One of the poignant moments in the book is when he shares about a leper patient who is in church and is reading a braille bible with his tongue because he is blind and has no feeling left in his hands. That convicted me.

Isn't it amazing how God speaks through the outcasts of society, confronts our insecurities through them, and shows us our own weaknesses through them. Jesus calls us to them, challenges us to enter their reality and I truly believe it is as much for our benefit as it is for theirs. We are transformed through their pain, and I think in them we are reminded about our own frailty, our own lostness, our own brokenness and the hope for all things to be made new.

Here is a video promoting the book:

Comments

[Ron Taimuty-Loomis]

Thanks Mark, I'll definitely have to add this one to my 'to-read' list.

Have you ever read Graham Greene's 'A Burnt-Out Case?' Was assigned to read it in seminary...a parallel (but fictional) redemption narrative of a man transformed while relegated to living with a leper colony in Africa.

[Alexander Wilhelmsen]

If you're ever out of work again, may I recommend Day Labor.

Most of the people I've worked with, and I mean we're on the same level in terms of work, have issues with their driving or criminal records in the past.

The thing is, when you're going to the job, at the job, and coming back, it's not about your past. What it is about is putting an honest, hard day of work and treating your fellow man with respect.

A couple of stories that are compliments to me, are one guy who simply has been out of work has recognized me as a Christian and has said "pray for ol' me." Another is my branch manager commenting on how people like to work with me and how rare how I am is.

Thing is, this life for them, a waystation for me, I have a few minor traffic violations that I've taken traffic school for and a few accidents when I first was driving that weren't necessarily my fault and caused very, very little damage.

I am "better," but I am no better and I knew that from the start.

I think the fascinating thing when Christians are ministering to those who are "less fortunate" is how they find the faith among those who have less and find that they're people, just like you. The difference is their condition in life.

Sometimes all people have to give is respect and sometimes all people have is God, and sometimes those people are all the more richer for it, and that's people who are less well off than minimum wagers.

It's like the words of Atticus Finch from "To Kill A Mockingbird":
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

While you never can be another person, the least you can do is be empathetic and compassionate as best you can.

[Alexander Wilhelmsen]

Now I don't recommend low wage work long term, but at least long enough to get to know some of the people there and never forget how well you have it.