Dear Inner Circle,
The most basic form of love is attention—and the task of attending to someone has become something of a radical act these days. It requires courage and vulnerability to give another our undivided and undistracted focus.
There is a new face that has burst on the scene here, with wide eyes and a vivacious energy. He seems to be unable to sleep at the moment and talks at a million miles an hour, often changing topics, contradicting himself intentionally. His mind moves fast but his clear eyes tell me it’s not being sped up with any substance, perhaps it’s what could be described as mania. There is an element to it though that I cannot help but think is a protective shield, moving quickly, throwing out various topics—testing to see if one lands in a genuine connection. I saw him collapse briefly at a table where he sat in the loving presence of one of our people who was gently listening to him. Mid-sentence he leapt up, spun around, and whispered, “Thank you for listening, it is rare these days, and I appreciate it.”
Every few months I get a text message from a friend, she’s going strong, and this year she turns 86. I once asked the secret to her strength, quick as flash she quipped, “Helping the elderly keeps me young!” When she messages me, she is always mentioning her friend, who this year turns 96. She spends her days hand knitting blankets for us to distribute, and I always make a note to receive and distribute them personally.
One young woman who is currently sleeping in a park was rolling out her swag in preparation for the evening—I passed her one of the precious blankets and explained its story to her. She then hugged the blanket, snuggling it close to her face so she could inhale deeply. “Smells just like a grandma’s love… I will keep this forever, please thank her.” This small little paragraph reveals the secret to vitality, long life and the truth that it is never too late to make a contribution that will impact someone’s life. All of these moments, once again, happened within five minutes of Wayside. I often swoop in for a few minutes here and there while our people attend to everyone hour after hour. Pop down one day and watch them in action, it is quite a sight.
On the train heading into Kings Cross a few mornings ago, I was pleasantly surprised to see some Auntys approach me, and we immediately broke the “code of conduct” by laughing and talking loudly, rudely interrupting what at first blush appeared to be a silent ritual of worship, as all heads were bowed gazing deeply into the warmth of glowing screens. The train screeched to a stop and we all had to get off due to an incident, so the three of us caught a taxi together. We continued our loud chat, discussing prison, exes, children and favourite meals. As we pulled up to Wayside they flew out. “Thanks for last night Rev!” an Aunty cracked to gee up the growing huddle in the horseshoe out front. As I was paying, the taxi driver turned to me, “I was really struggling to follow your conversation, but having pulled up here, it suddenly all makes perfect sense!”
Life by the Wayside is unpredictable, but if you pay attention there is a rhythm to it. Hope next to fear, laughter beside pain, calm amongst the chaos.
Thank you for being part of the Inner Circle,
Jon
Rev. Jon Owen
CEO & Pastor
Wayside Chapel
