This commentary is by Ed Baker of Burlington. He is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, a person in recovery from severe drug use disorder and an independent activist.
Rev. Karen G. Johnston stood before her congregation at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington and, with grounded dignity, struck her bowl chime fully, 37 times.
One for each loved and loving one lost to us in the first 10 months of 2024, according to State’s Attorney Sarah George. Loved ones taken from us by unintentional drug overdose.
I’m reminded of the philosophical meditation on whether or not there is a sound if a tree falls in a lonely forest … Whether or not there is a death if a man or woman falls in a lonely alley.
The chime’s beautiful and clear vibrations carried both love and grief to the open hearts gathered together to embrace their own personal losses. This was a service designed as a space for people to safely join together in remembrance of their loved ones.
The 37 chimes were met with the embracing and silent response of the congregation toward those taken from us by substance-use:
“You are our loved ones…”
“You are important…”
“You are not forgotten…”
“You are missed…”
“You are one of us…”
When we respond with love are we not elevated by compassion dwelling in our hearts, rather than the clench of judgment? Is this compassionate response to be the privilege of the few, or can we call to all Burlingtonians of faith to join together in a simple moral response to common suffering.
Can we rise to this together, are we able to see, to feel, to meet the awesome responsibility that is ours?
Our mayor, Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, has said she hopes to see an overdose prevention center open in Burlington by the summer of 2025. These types of centers have consistently proven successful in greatly diminishing drug overdose death in communities where they have operated in Canada, Europe and most recently New York City.
The funding for this center has been provided through a class-action suit filed against pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors responsible for creating the opioid overdose crisis which has enveloped our country and our state for over two decades. The center itself is mandated by law, H.72, passed by the Vermont Legislature this past session with tripartisan support.
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This is a complicated undertaking, and if done correctly can:
- save many lives by reversing overdoses;
- improve many lives by providing essential referral support to people in dire need of health-promoting interventions;
- profoundly decrease public drug use and the public discarding of drug-use supplies;
- and save the city of Burlington many millions of dollars in law-enforcement, emergency medical and sanitation costs.
Compassion, driven by moral integrity, results in multiple reductions in our common suffering and real-time savings to city expenditures.
I am calling to people of faith during prayer, self-reflection, meditation and mindful conversation to answer the question: Is it time for us to come together and respond to a common calling, to stand up, unify and express our deepest belief that we are morally driven by an imperative to respond to the poor, the dying in our midst?
I am urging people of all faiths to stand up together in visible and vocal support, to welcome an overdose prevention center into our community, to share in preventing deaths and supporting health.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
— Proverbs 31:8
“The greatest disease in the West today is not tuberculosis or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.”
— Mother Teresa
We must look within ourselves. Compassion is in the heart of the beholder.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Ed Baker: 37 chimes.