Every day, when I walk to and from work, I pass a homeless man that sleeps outside the Chapters at Rideau and Sussex. He's been sleeping there ever since the weather warmed up and he calls himself Crazy Dave, the homeless poet!! He writes poetry on scrap pieces of cardboard and "sells" them for change. He chooses to live on the streets because he feels that shelters are too unsafe and anything that he manages to possess just gets stolen right from under him.
A journalist took a photograph of him once and gave Dave a copy of the print. I bought it off of Dave and it is now framed in our bedroom. He looks so worn and as though he has seen so much in his life. What I love about the photo though is that it shows so eloquantly just how much spirit Dave has. He's not bitter or angry or rude. He's full of life and optimism about his circumstances. I seldom ever give Dave money, but I will often bring him food or have a coffee with him and chat a bit...he's got a lot of stories to share.
About a month ago, I was at Chapters buying a book when I saw Dave in line in front of me. He was buying a sale copy of the The Jungle Book with the money that he had collected!! I asked him about it and he just smiled at me and said that he was excited because he had never read it before! I sort of chuckled because I have never read it either!! I've been bringing him books ever since.
I was so moved by this moment because so often, we tend to judge those that live on the street...being quick to assume that they missed the boat and ended up there due to addiction or an error in judgement on their part. Dave may call himself Crazy but, he's anything but crazy. He is a reminder that the world needs more compassion and there is hope in all situations. People need our generosity, our kindness, our simple acts of giving eye contact and saying "good morning".
I am not always in a position to give monetarily to Dave but, I always express my respect and gratitude to him because he has more spirit and hope within him than most other people I know...people with beds to sleep in, jobs to go to and homes to call our own. It's frightening at times to realize how much we take for granted, especially as consumers of the Western World.
If you ever need a sense of perspective and gratitude, feel free to visit Dave...have a chat with him, ask him about his favourite book...and remember that it's only when we have nothing that we realize we truly have all we'll ever need.
"Truth or consequence...say it aloud...use that evidence...race it around...There goes my hero...watch him as he goes...there goes my hero...he's ordinary..." - Foo Fighters
A journalist took a photograph of him once and gave Dave a copy of the print. I bought it off of Dave and it is now framed in our bedroom. He looks so worn and as though he has seen so much in his life. What I love about the photo though is that it shows so eloquantly just how much spirit Dave has. He's not bitter or angry or rude. He's full of life and optimism about his circumstances. I seldom ever give Dave money, but I will often bring him food or have a coffee with him and chat a bit...he's got a lot of stories to share.
About a month ago, I was at Chapters buying a book when I saw Dave in line in front of me. He was buying a sale copy of the The Jungle Book with the money that he had collected!! I asked him about it and he just smiled at me and said that he was excited because he had never read it before! I sort of chuckled because I have never read it either!! I've been bringing him books ever since.
I was so moved by this moment because so often, we tend to judge those that live on the street...being quick to assume that they missed the boat and ended up there due to addiction or an error in judgement on their part. Dave may call himself Crazy but, he's anything but crazy. He is a reminder that the world needs more compassion and there is hope in all situations. People need our generosity, our kindness, our simple acts of giving eye contact and saying "good morning".
I am not always in a position to give monetarily to Dave but, I always express my respect and gratitude to him because he has more spirit and hope within him than most other people I know...people with beds to sleep in, jobs to go to and homes to call our own. It's frightening at times to realize how much we take for granted, especially as consumers of the Western World.
If you ever need a sense of perspective and gratitude, feel free to visit Dave...have a chat with him, ask him about his favourite book...and remember that it's only when we have nothing that we realize we truly have all we'll ever need.
"Truth or consequence...say it aloud...use that evidence...race it around...There goes my hero...watch him as he goes...there goes my hero...he's ordinary..." - Foo Fighters
photo by Sarolta Gyoker (designsoul)
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