Random Thoughts...
Some days, work doesn't seem like work... relationships are great, attitudes are so positive
-despite the fact our people are living in our parking lot -and sometimes they can surprise you.
The other day, I was helping clean up in the morning and one of our guys made the comment 'You shouldn't have to do that.' Taken aback, I stammered 'Why's that now?' The response, 'It's not your mess, we made it, we should clean it up.' And he did.
I could reel off a number of other examples like that... but it's an amazing thing to think how, by allowing our guests to stay in our parking lot, relationship has grown so much. Respect, love, trust -it's at the level these days, that we've all wanted to exist in the Mission. It's truly the strangest irony of this whole situation.
It's also been a blessing to see how the community again has responded. Sure, there will always be those that will criticize (coming from a place of ignorance or fear), but to see the countless number of people come by in the evening with sandwiches, drinks (non-alcoholic of course), fruit, snacks, blankets, sleeping bags; financial donations have been coming in and amazingly, new volunteers are coming forward. It's really been an answer to prayer.
The flip side of that is sin is still all too prevalent. And when there are vulnerable souls in the balance, the enemy will come to steal, kill and destroy. Reports of drug dealers dropping off their product in the night, men in nice new trucks stopping by to pay for favours from our female guests -and the male guests -letting it happen.
This reality is unacceptable and sickening and makes us all the more fervent to pray for a new shelter space to be found and up and running as soon as possible. A safe place for our guests to rest their tired minds and bodies -away from the threat and temptations of the street. It's not too much to ask right?
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
What's Goin On?
"Mother, Mother, everybody thinks we're wrong. Oh, but who are they to judge us? Simply because our hair is long. Oh, you know we've got to find a way, to bring some understanding here today. Oh Picket lines and picket signs, don't punish me with brutality. Talk to me, so you can see; What's going on? Tell me what's going on?" -Marvin Gaye
If you were to drive by the Mission (in the evening) these days, you will find 10-15 of our guests (men and women) camped out in the front of our building; sleeping on flattened cardboard boxes, sleeping bags or right on the parking lot.
I wonder what feelings this invokes. Shock, anger, sadness, pity, shame?
For myself, all of these emotions rise to the surface. It makes me wonder what kind of society/community would allow this to happen? Sure this reality may exist in every town, every back-alley across this nation and you could argue that because we live in small(er) town, it sure makes the situation seem more magnified. I'm ashamed to admit that my first thought was about business. 'How is this going to affect our thrift store, having this right on our doorstep?'
Immediately, I felt convicted. I wondered aloud, 'Who are we in the business of serving here?'
Our guests, who as of last week have no evening shelter -are now forced to sleep outdoors.
Since then, they've been pushed out of every park, business fronts, even the Shelter has hired private security to keep them away. Imagine if you can for a moment, how it would feel to be homeless, to not have the luxury nor security of having a roof over your head at night. And at every moment, you think you've found a safe, quiet place to rest your head and aching body -you're awoken by someone that is a) trying to rob you b) trying to move you on -'you're not allowed to be here' or c) mean you harm
I don't mean to be critical of those who ran the Shelter. God knows that we need to support one another in the work that we do. Their reasons for closing their doors are seemingly understandable. Under staffed, under-funded... it sure makes it difficult to operate under those circumstances. Again though, you have to wonder how this was allowed to happen, how they could close their doors, without a proper back up in place? A 'Plan B,' a second option -anything? Why they couldn't have stayed open for a little bit longer, till a new shelter space was found?
When will this community rise up above the mentality of 'not in my back yard' and say enough is enough? Who will stand up and be a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the poor and needy? Too many it seems believe that it's up to the few -the well-meaning 'do-gooders' that ultimately come through in the end (and they will). Jesus has said that this is a responsibility that we all share. We all need to be a part of the solution and not turn our eyes away from a problem that will only get worse if we let it. The time has come to stand for what we believe in.
"Mother, Mother, everybody thinks we're wrong. Oh, but who are they to judge us? Simply because our hair is long. Oh, you know we've got to find a way, to bring some understanding here today. Oh Picket lines and picket signs, don't punish me with brutality. Talk to me, so you can see; What's going on? Tell me what's going on?" -Marvin Gaye
If you were to drive by the Mission (in the evening) these days, you will find 10-15 of our guests (men and women) camped out in the front of our building; sleeping on flattened cardboard boxes, sleeping bags or right on the parking lot.
I wonder what feelings this invokes. Shock, anger, sadness, pity, shame?
For myself, all of these emotions rise to the surface. It makes me wonder what kind of society/community would allow this to happen? Sure this reality may exist in every town, every back-alley across this nation and you could argue that because we live in small(er) town, it sure makes the situation seem more magnified. I'm ashamed to admit that my first thought was about business. 'How is this going to affect our thrift store, having this right on our doorstep?'
Immediately, I felt convicted. I wondered aloud, 'Who are we in the business of serving here?'
Our guests, who as of last week have no evening shelter -are now forced to sleep outdoors.
Since then, they've been pushed out of every park, business fronts, even the Shelter has hired private security to keep them away. Imagine if you can for a moment, how it would feel to be homeless, to not have the luxury nor security of having a roof over your head at night. And at every moment, you think you've found a safe, quiet place to rest your head and aching body -you're awoken by someone that is a) trying to rob you b) trying to move you on -'you're not allowed to be here' or c) mean you harm
I don't mean to be critical of those who ran the Shelter. God knows that we need to support one another in the work that we do. Their reasons for closing their doors are seemingly understandable. Under staffed, under-funded... it sure makes it difficult to operate under those circumstances. Again though, you have to wonder how this was allowed to happen, how they could close their doors, without a proper back up in place? A 'Plan B,' a second option -anything? Why they couldn't have stayed open for a little bit longer, till a new shelter space was found?
When will this community rise up above the mentality of 'not in my back yard' and say enough is enough? Who will stand up and be a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the poor and needy? Too many it seems believe that it's up to the few -the well-meaning 'do-gooders' that ultimately come through in the end (and they will). Jesus has said that this is a responsibility that we all share. We all need to be a part of the solution and not turn our eyes away from a problem that will only get worse if we let it. The time has come to stand for what we believe in.
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