Maggie

Maggie is our neighbor. Although, I still have no idea where she actually lives. Regardless of the fact that she describes her house to me everyday, "It's the pink house with the hurricane shutters." I nod and smile, while in reality, I am thinking, "You just described every house within the next eight blocks!" She is an older woman, maybe in her sixties, and everyday I have seen her (which is everyday I have lived in Miami) she has been wearing the same clothes. She stops by our house every evening and asks to use our phone. We kindly smile and let her in, let her use the phone, give her water and a place to sit. And a place to vent, apparently. Maggie is a woman of many words. There is always something interesting going on in her life and she is not one to hold back any emotions or stories or excuses.

We enjoy our chats with Maggie. However, what started out as a friendly neighborly gesture has turned into something more. Because she knows she can trust us and because we "are so nice and friendly," she keeps coming over. Sometimes only for a few minutes, sometimes for hours. It's hard and uncomfortable for us to ask her to leave because we have this desire to be hospitable to everyone who enters "the mission house," as it is known and commonly called. It's part of the reason we live in the neighborhood that we do. We throw neighborhood barbeques and block parties as a way to get to know our neighbors and as a way to be fully present in the community.

Maggie has recently told us she is moving, and therefore packing up most of her belongings. Everyday she will stop by with something else of hers that she thinks we will want. And while this seems like a very neighborly gesture, she doesn't actually want to give us these items...she wants to sell them to us. So, we bought her DVD player for $20 a few days ago. Then, the next day, when she tried to sell Isaac her husband's wool suits, we had to tell her no, because, big surprise, they didn't fit the 6'7'' lanky, white boy. Plus, wool suits in Florida?! But, we quickly learned that these gestures were more about just getting rid of her stuff. She actually needs the money, considering she said, "Oh, sorry the suits don't fit, can I have $20 anyways? My husband's sick." And the next day when she came over she needed a ride to her new house to talk to the landlord and then asked for more money. The entire house is very torn about what to do about Maggie. We obviously value her presence, but now we get worried when we see her come up to the front door or when we hear her knock because we are unsure of how to approach the money situation. On the one hand, here is someone who is obvious need. On the other hand, we are not making enough money to be giving her $20 everyday. However, it is our responsibility to take care of our neighbors and be kind and generous. On the other hand, she is taking advantage of the fact that five young, caring people live down the street and don't have the heart to say no. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors and help in every way possible. Maggie's background is a very complex and complicated one. She is a person that needs all the love and support and help she can get. However, monetary services are not ways in which we are strongest right now. On the other hand, we are all white, educated, middle income kids from "the center" who theoretically could have alot to offer and share with Maggie.

It is a never ending circle of confusion and prayer and questions. What do we do in a world full of Maggies??