Dear Inner Circle,
A brother and sister (in Year 2 and Kindy) wanted to do something kind for people doing it tough. They asked their parents if they could run a drive to collect blankets, towels and toiletries. The idea’s momentum slowly built through their family, friends and school community until the two little kids with giant hearts delighted us all when they arrived lugging a massive collection for us. They walked around our building and joined us for a Community Lunch. News has it that the little entrepreneur has now pitched a proposal to his school principal for next year. The world really is a better place when we take the time to listen to children.[vc_row columns_on_tablet=”keep” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″][vc_column h_text_align=”left” h_text_align_mobile=”left” v_align=”v-align-middle” use_background=”” width=”1/1″][tm_image image_id=”1318″ link_image=”none” textarea_html_bkg_color=”#ffffff” caption_type=””][/tm_image][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row columns_on_tablet=”keep” padding_top=”50″ padding_bottom=”50″][vc_column h_text_align=”left” h_text_align_mobile=”left” v_align=”v-align-middle” use_background=”” width=”1/1″][tm_textblock textarea_html_bkg_color=”#ffffff”]Our kids grew up surrounded by community, the youngest used to wake up early, “Who slept over last night?” she would excitedly whisper as we carefully tip-toed over bodies to make it to breakfast first. Friends who were sleeping rough or escaping domestic violence would often pitch up to our house late in the night, looking for a safe place to sleep. I would sit her up on the bench and give her a tame version of the events of the previous night as the toaster glowed enough light to illuminate her widening eyes. “I am glad they are safe here then, Daddy!” Then she would hop off the bench in her jumpsuit with a wobbly plate and share her toast with everyone who had stirred to life with the smell. When she was born a Grandfather-like figure told us to cherish the moments we have, to not wish the sleepless nights away too quickly, “Before you blink she will be walking and talking, blink again and she will be off to school, once more and then she will be on her way, with your heart and your car keys…”. We’ve really got to stop blinking as this is going by all too fast. Even though we now live a world away from those early days, on Saturdays I still take her out of the house for breakfast and now we argue over the word puzzles and crosswords in the local paper. I can’t tell you how precious that hour is for me. She speaks fondly of her early days and loves that Wayside is now our new “home”.
Having a place to call home shouldn’t be considered a privilege even though it’s hard for many to attain and maintain. We work long and hard with visitors to assist them, but amidst the joys are also a lot of heartache and tears. Life on the streets is tough and can be brutally short. Having a safe place to go during tough times shouldn’t be a privilege either, but it is a lot more within our control, every one of us. Our teams in Bondi and Kings Cross work diligently to create open and safe spaces as we would in our very own homes because safe spaces create healing places where the sacred may meet the mundane. I was invited to sit in the gutter yesterday by a friend who told me they had fallen deeper than rock bottom. We embraced and without words he knew that even at this depth he was not alone.
Thanks for being a wonderful Inner Circle,
JonJon Owen
Pastor & CEO
Wayside Chapel
