Justice Can Begin on the Deck
The Outreach and Social Justice Office has been accompanying a man who is homeless, unemployed and currently living in his car — which no longer runs. As you might imagine, his world has grown very small. At times he is hungry for food, but even more so, he is starving for connection.
With tears in his eyes, he shared a simple, heartbreaking wish:
“I just wish someone would invite me to sit on their deck.”
We often think of social justice as something that happens in large, public ways — marches, legislation, service projects, organized outreach. These efforts matter deeply. But the Gospel reminds us that transformation also begins in quiet, ordinary moments — in gestures of welcome, in relationships, in seeing one another.
As warmer weather draws us outdoors, many of us will gather on decks and patios — sharing meals, celebrating milestones, enjoying time with family and friends. In these moments, perhaps we are invited to pause and ask:
- Who around me feels unseen or unheard?
- Whose burdens remain hidden?
- Where might I make room for another?
Justice does not always begin with grand action. Sometimes, it begins with an open chair, a simple invitation and the courage to see someone who longs to be known.
These moments do not need to be perfect. They simply need to begin. Justice can begin on the deck.
