Michael J. Hoggatt
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Everyday we hear stories of children in Africa who have lost their parents to AIDS. Magazines display individuals who have been disabled as a result of poor medical conditions associated with poverty in the developing world. Here in the United States we are constantly bombarded with the fact that some lives are just plain better than others. All of these images and messages further distance us from the men, women and children living in our very neighborhoods who need our love and compassion. The barrage of messages has left many of us either blind or numb to many of the needs in our communities. This book seeks to open eyes and allow us to share in the struggles and pain of our neighbors.
Who is my neighbor? The rich and beautiful are our neighbors, but what about those who are not considered rich or beautiful by the world? Over 20 million Americans are affected by disabilities which commonly result in social and economic oppression, yet only 1 out of 10 churches have disability ministries. These are your neighbors. Millions of foster children and former foster children regularly see ballot initiatives about “Family Values,” but rarely see the Church seeking to value their family or preserve their home. These too are your neighbors. My neighbors live in institutions and foster homes. My neighbors are valued by God and precious to Him.
Through the course of this book you will be introduced to people in your community that have too long been overlooked. You will read their stories and share in their struggles, but you will also see a way of living that promotes the inclusion and welcome of all. Finally, you will see what it takes to move away from exclusion and ulitmately Move into the Manger.
Michael Hoggatt holds advanced degrees in Special Education, as well as Public Administration. He has worked in human services with foster children, persons with disabilities and families for over twelve years. In college Michael studied history with the intention of pursing a career as a university history professor. However, an opportunity to travel abroad forever altered that path.
Michael’s real professional journey began in 1996 when he travelled to Albania to work with children with disabilities in the country’s various institutions and special schools. Upon his return Michael became a house parent in a six-bed foster home for abused boys where he worked and lived for two years.
Since that time Michael has continued to work in both foster care and disability services where he has served as a social worker, administrator, ministry volunteer and educator.Currently, Michael works at the community college level with adults with disabilities in addition to volunteering in his church’s disability ministry.
Michael serves as the director/founder of Manger Consulting. Manger Consulting works with individuals, families and organizations in order to promote inclusion, understanding and justice.
Michael lives with his wife Mandy in Orange County where they are eagerly anticipating meeting their adopted child.
For more information check out www.MangerConsulting.com
This is the nature of pity. Pity is selfish and self-satisfying. Because of its nature, pity places people at a distance. If we recognize suffering but do not desire to alleviate the suffering we indicate an inability to recognize the image of God in the one suffering. If we see someone suffer and fail to recognize them as image bearers than it follows that we see them as something beneath us or as something “other.”
Compassion is quite different. Compassion, like pity, sees the suffering of the world. However, compassion seeks to alleviate the suffering in others. Compassion, as I mentioned before, means “to suffer with.” The withness of compassion is what separates it from all other feelings of sorrow or pity or sympathy. Compassion is not merely feeling what another feels, for that would be empathy. Compassion is feeling with another person. Look at the interaction of Christ and the man with leprosy in St. Mark’s gospel, A man with leprosy came to Him and begged on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured (1:41).
In the above encounter, we see that Christ is moved by the suffering of this individual. It is easy to assume that Christ was not solely moved by the physical suffering associated with leprosy, but also the emotional, social and spiritual damage inflicted upon the marginalized. Second we see that Christ works to alleviate the suffering. This is accomplished by addressing the physical need, but also the spiritual (or emotional/social) need. Christ not only heals the man's leprosy, but by physically connecting with the “outcast” Christ begins the healing of this man’s soul, as well. Imagine how this story might read if Christ responded with pity instead of compassion.
A man with leprosy came to Him and begged on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with pity Jesus reached into His wallet and dropped a denarius into the man’s hand. “What a tragedy,” He said, “God bless you.” Immediately He left the leprous man and went about His day.
That sounds a little ridiculous, but not too far from the truth of our own lives. How often do we see the suffering of the world and respond out of pity? While charities, individuals and churches all require money to perform many of the laudable services, money alone is not the answer to addressing the problem of suffering and injustice in the world. If our response to the plight of “the poor” is too reach for our checkbooks instead of actually reaching for the poor, than we are responding out of pity not compassion. If our only response to those who suffer from isolation and marginalization is to mention their names on a prayer list, but never sit with them at their homes, hospitable beds or institutions then we are responding out of pity and not compassion.
Christ’s response of compassion to the man with leprosy involved physical, emotional and spiritual proximity to the man with leprosy. Again, it is the withness of compassion coupled with a desire to alleviate the suffering that most clearly distinguishes compassion from any of the emotions we so wrongly assume to be synonymous. Therefore, it is inconceivable that a Church who refuses the opportunity to live and worship alongside each other can truly understand compassion. Compassion is not compassion if it occurs at a distance, and compassion is not compassion if it does not seek to root out suffering.
