In high school I was on the school’s literary magazine staff, and for much of my life I have dabbled in the art of words in some form or another. I feel there is power in finding the right word for a situation. While at Church of the Reconciler, I’ve written two poems about the challenges and the joys of serving and loving this particular community.
Art is specific to moments in time. No art explains a whole community or even a whole person, but strives to give insight into particular events and feelings. The first poem, titled “Church in Hell,” is from an extremely hard week, when three drug overdoses happened among our community near our building. Two of them were treated with Narcan by our staff. All of the individuals survived.
Sometimes we have witnessed understandable compassion fatigue among our city’s first responders, and this poem references that. Words could not capture our gratitude and compassion as a church for the people who tend to the safety and health of our city. However, if you or someone you love is across from someone who has run out of patience for those in the throws of addiction, it hurts. The pain expressed in this poem is only one part of what we experience at Church of the Reconciler. We have had many grace-filled interactions with first responders.
Art is not only a mode of expression but a practice of healing. In our church we embrace opportunities for healing through art and creativity. One of those opportunities is a partnership with UAB Arts In Medicine, using music, poetry, and creative writing for therapeutic connection. Musician and poet Sharrif Simmons has a residency with Arts in Medicine in which he comes to Church of the Reconciler several times a year to share his own art and encourage others in using creative words to share their identity and experiences. We look forward to each of Sharrif’s visits. I wrote the second poem “People in Love See” in response to one of his prompts with us. This poem addresses some of the stereotypes that the privileged hold toward people in poverty and invites a perspective of shared humanity.
I hope you enjoy each of these and that they will inspire you to come spend some time with our people and find transformative relationships here.
Church in Hell
By Sarah Smoot, April 2025
If you are in Hell
You can visit our church.
We live here too.
Find us at the corner of
Addiction,
Homelessness,
And Callous Wealth—
A deadly five-point intersection.
You may find any drug here
To make you forget the pain
Of this Hell.
Many are ready to sell it to you
For your disability check,
Your social security,
Or, no money?
Your body will do.
And when the consequences
Of this social illness
Are wrought
On your own body,
Those who are supposed to help
Will say it’s your fault.
In other neighborhoods
They would rush in
Flashing lights and
Pressed uniforms.
Here, they cast lots
To see whose ill fate it is
To “respond” to our call
They may revive you,
But their compassion runs low.
They will hesitate to take you
To the hospital.
It’s too crowded there already.
The insured and the elective surgeries
And the wealth of others
Are more important than you.
If you are lucky
The blue lights will answer,
And you will get
A few days off this corner
In jail,
Where someone else will
Make money on your body.
We will be here when you get back.
All of it will be here.
Who would build a church here?
Doesn’t Jesus want a Nice,
Wealthy,
Drug-Free
Neighborhood?
Jesus Christ
His Only Son
Our Lord
Who…
Descended into Hell.
When the uniforms have left,
We will be here
Meeting Jesus
In you,
In your struggle
To one day get out of Hell.
People in Love See
By Sarah Smoot, September 2025
Some see
Tattered clothes
Tired eyes
Outstretched hands
Of weak and weary bodies
A burden on society
People in love see
A smile
A brightened eye
A handmade bracelet
The weight of the world
On those who fell through its cracks
Some see
Dead beats
Addicts
Lazy folks
Criminals
And delinquents
People in love see
Laborers
Artists
Facing their past
Striving again
Being a friend
Some see
Trash
Dirt
Loitering
Violence
People in love see
A second chance
Hard work
Community
Healing