Dear Inner Circle,
Dame
Marie Bashir was in our lift yesterday and I saw her put her arms
around an aboriginal woman. She said, “Every time I see an aboriginal
sister, I just want to say, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Dame
Marie was here for our celebrations to mark NAIDOC Week. There were few
happier places on earth than Wayside yesterday. We were able to peer
into a future Australia that will enter into it’s own maturity because
it knows that to love the land means to love the people of the land.
A
homeless woman rushed through our front door the other day to say that
someone had set fire to another homeless person’s mattress. There is a
mattress set up near the theatre right behind us. We were about to rush
to the fire and the lady said, “Don’t rush, I put the fire out.” She
went on to explain that she’d poured all of her wine over the fire. I’m
not sure if she was expecting we’d replace her supply of plonk or
perhaps nominate her for an Order of Australia.
A
man with quite a sad face approached me this morning. I don’t think
we’ve spoken before although I recognised him as someone who appears
here from time to time. “I miss Gary” he said. “Gosh, so do I” I
replied. It’s been over a year since Gary, one of our much-loved
visitors had a massive stroke on the footpath and died. He spoke for a
while about how Gary taught him what friendship was. When he was first
homeless and sleeping in a park, if Gary had a sandwich, he’d share half
with his mate. Gary would choose to sleep in the more exposed spot,
offering his mate some sense of protection from danger. He gave me half a
dozen examples of the wisdom of Gary. Many of you would have heard me
tell a story of a shabby bloke who confronted me one day when I was in a
hurry to leave. It was some months after my son had died and I was
coping even if I was flying on auto pilot. Gary blocked my way in the
front door and I couldn’t get past this shabby man with the goofy look
on his face. Eventually he put his arms around me and kissed my cheek
and whispered, “That was from your son”. That was Gary and we became
close friends and I miss him too.
Another
homeless fellow told me that he’d like to buy a farm and help people
get off drugs. “I’ve got a couple of million in the bank but it wouldn’t
be enough for a farm,” he said. My first reaction was to point out that
if he had a million dollars, he could probably afford some warm clothes
and a roof over his head. I was quickly reminded of a job I had in
ancient times in a boys reformatory. Every little kid had a story of
rich parents or a rich uncle whose wealth was beyond calculation. Every
little boy had a story about how their rich relative would appear one
day soon and all would be revealed. Likewise it’s not uncommon for
homeless people to tell me that they’ve got a winning lottery ticket or
that they are due to inherit riches. I suspect there is a longing in all
of us that intuits worth for which there is no evidence. I suspect it
is not an unhealthy response but rather a crude and clumsy attempt to
reach for the worth that is given by virtue of being alive and part of
society.
Dame
Marie said while we were lining up for food yesterday, “I reckon Jesus
must peer down from heaven, look at Wayside and say, ‘Thank goodness
someone is getting it right.’” It is any wonder that we love that woman
so much? Full honour to Monique, Will, Ma’Ata and Annelise in our Aboriginal Project, our volunteers and everyone else who made our NAIDOC Week such a fabulous success.
Thanks for being part of our inner circle,
Graham
Rev Graham Long AM
Pastor and CEO
The Wayside Chapel
Kings Cross
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