麻豆约拍

Good morning.聽 Today I'm thinking about Jane.

You'd find Jane in the basement of a church near me and she keeps unusual company.聽 Most likely, she'll be sitting with twenty or thirty people - more often they're men.聽 They're the clients of the day-centre she runs for vulnerable people.聽 They're probably homeless or perhaps living in hostels or flats in the first stages of coming back from addiction or mental illness.聽

I thought this would be a sad place but I was wrong.聽 Jane has created an environment where clients find a welcoming home which, like all good homes, tries to cares for every aspect of their lives.聽 Jane doesn't see a homeless person or an addict.聽 She sees a man named Ed or a woman named Lily.聽 She gives Ed or Lily her full attention and listens carefully as they talk about themselves and their needs.聽聽聽

The day-centre provides what I might've expected - tea, emergency food and second-hand clothes.聽 There are computers to help with benefit and job applications.聽 There's plenty of tough talk, too. Jane might be past retirement age but she quickly sorts out an argument and no-one would dare risk her wrath by bringing in drugs or alcohol.聽

I didn't expect to see laughter.聽 Jane laughs because she makes sure birthdays are celebrated.聽 It's a home, you see.聽 Jane also grieves.聽 As the life-expectancy of the homeless is so short, there are regular deaths in that community.聽 麻豆约拍s are places for grieving, too.聽 Like the ancient poet of the Psalms, Jane sees all human beings as crowned with glory and honour聽 - worth all that a home can give.

So, gracious God, we thank you for the Janes of this world.聽 Help us to support them and, like them, give honour to everyone we meet today.聽 Amen