May We See More Of This

I just learned of one of the most inspirational stories I've heard in a while. Tracy Orr was about to lose her house to foreclosure. She lost her job after buying the home. Though she had made all the efforts she could to catch up with the payments she missed while unemployed - she sold property and sent $12,000 to the mortgage company, for instance - she wasn't able to get out of the hole and the bank wouldn't renegotiate the terms. On Saturday, she drove the 3 hours to the auction site where she sat in the back anxiously waiting to see how much her home would be sold for. While there, Marilyn Mock sat next to her and asked if she was ready to buy a home. Unexpectedly, Tracy broke into tears and disclosed that her house was being sold.

There were many houses being auctioned that day. When the bidding began on Tracy's house, she moved a bit forward in the crowed and didn't see that Marilyn was participating. Marilyn ending up paying $30,000 for the house that had been originally sold to Tracy for $80,000.

In the next few moments Tracy would get the shock of a lifetime. Marilyn, who didn't even know Tracy's name, bought the house to give back to Tracy. It wasn't something Marilyn came to the auction to do. She came to help her son buy his first home. But she was so moved by Tracy's sense of loss that she decided on the spot to help. She can't afford to just give $30,000 away. Instead, she is prepared to make whatever payment arrangements Tracy can afford.

Tracy gets to keep her home and has gained a new friend. Marilyn is apparently pleased that she now has permission to go fishing on the property.

What struck me about this story is that Marilyn was touched by the sadness and trauma that Tracy was experiencing. The huge, impersonal face of a national economic crisis was given a very human face with visceral feelings. Marilyn felt compelled to do what she could.

As we face this national financial metldown, I hope we hear more stories of people reaching out to one another in this way. This tragedy has millions of human faces. They're right in our neighborhoods. It would would be quite just for all those banks that played the system, made their fortune and then left us with the tab for their irresponsible, even criminal, lending practices, to sell foreclosed homes at a loss while a caring citizen bought that home and re-packaged an affordable payment plan for the owner.

There may have been some people out there who bought houses as investments. But the vast majority bought houses with the intent of living out their lives there. Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and graduations and births and storing up all the memories of a lifetime in the walls of what would otherwise be simply a building, but is now a home. May we all have the compassion do what we can for others in need. May Marilyn Mock be a harbinger of things to come.