Reading Grant’s latest blog post “The Polite Team”, I
have to admit I was very silent for a while there, being moved by the very kind
things he has been writing about me (no swell head here, I can assure you!). I
know he is pissing in my pocket just a little bit because of course I was going
to read his post (haha), but I do know he thinks very highly of me and that is
an absolute honour, because if such high praises come from someone as honest as
Grant, you gotta treasure it.
Grant has done so much helping homeless people and others
in need, and although I have helped many people in other capacities as well,
teaming up with him has been an honour and a delight and an inspiration, and
talking with the people I help with him or by myself has been heart-warming. A
very enriching experience, very different and in very different settings from
my other helping roles. Working with Grant’s network is a very refreshing way
of working with others to help people.
I do realize Grant has been doing BBQs and things by
himself for a long time and has built a large network of people who help him
out with what is needed. The people I have personally met so far have all been
incredibly nice and friendly. However I know that some people may not like that
Grant has teamed up with me as The Polite Team but really, as Grant said, all
that matters is the people that are helped. There are no changes in that regard,
except that Grant now shares the load with me and like he said, if one of us
isn’t around the other can still help. The BBQs will continue to exist, the
only difference is that Grant and I rather than Grant on his own will put them
together. I hope all you helpers out there will continue to help and I am
looking forward to meeting you all if I haven’t already. I have met some of you
and it has been great. So many wonderful people out there!
Now, speaking of helpers, this BBQ that we are going to
have on Sunday 2 December promises to be spectacular. The Polite Team is
looking forward to a very special and memorable Christmas BBQ. If anyone is
looking how to help, we do still need soft drinks and marquees for the event. Although
it can be done earlier as well, Friday 30 November is the main day to drop off
clothes, toiletries and other donations to Grant at Post Office Square or to
Keith from Buffed Shoe Shining Service inside the BOQ building, 259 Queen
Street, preferably between 7-9AM but we will be collecting until 2PM. For any
news about the BBQ watch this space.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I’d like to share this little story with you, because it
made the day livelier for a few people. I was in the city the other day and
bumped into a tall man (let’s call him Joe) who carried along something of
colourful making. It was a big colourful face, made of different
kinds and colours of paper which, so I heard later, was a piñata: a Mexican
type of container for toys or candy. I don’t know if Joe was homeless or if
he just spent a lot of time on the street, and I wouldn’t want to assume.
Anyway, Joe was in the city and we had a little
chat. I said something about the colourful face he carried in his hand, about
how nice and colourful it was. He smiled, was very modest about it then
said a few nice things about it, and handed it to me as a gift. I was very
happy with this unexpected surprise – it had been an ordinary Thursday so far -
and thanked him. Then he crossed the street, only to stop in the middle of the
road, turn around, look at me with a broad grin and gave me the thumbs-up. I
gave him the thumbs-up back, and he was visibly happy with that. Meanwhile cars
had started to stop on the road because Joe was standing right in the
middle of their lane giving me the thumbs-up. The driver of the front car
started to honk, Joe walked up to the car,
obviously not impressed. No, the driver did not end up getting out of the car and Joe didn’t end up dragging him out. There was some contest
for a while of who would be the bigger convincer: the driver honking or Joe making huge arm gestures. In the end Joe was the wiser party and continued his walk across the street, the drivers
continued their trips and all was good. Just life in the big city, often grey
and rushed, got more colourful for a little while.
I took the piñata with me in the bus, placing it on the seat
next to me. My fellow passengers looked at it and it brought smiles to some
faces: Joe made not only my life a little more colourful
that day, but also the lives of the other people. The snowball effect of a
friendly deed. You never know how something
simple you say or do might impact on others, might make them smile, might make
their day better, even if you don't know them.
No comments:
Post a Comment