Inner Circle

Thursday, 02 February

Dear Inner Circle,

As I walked in the building yesterday a big, boofy bloke stepped into my path and asked me how I was. I felt a bit put out because I was in a hurry, my mind laden with many things. This guy was a former street dweller and now living in a dodgy boarding house. As it happens, I wasn't feeling well but I was in no mood for an organ recital because it would take time to explain that I wasn't well and it might constitute an invitation for him to tell me about his aches and pains. I just wanted to get past and into my office. To my surprise the man could see that I was unwell and he put his arms around me and whispered in my ear, "I'll be praying for you". As he took a step back and looked at me, I was captured by the kindness in his face. I'd not seen the amazing warmth and care in his face before. I left that conversation a different man. This big, boofy man is my brother and there's more of me today because of him.

In the cafe the other day, I noticed a young woman who I've not seen before. She was easy to notice because her hair was up in an almost Marge Simpson style. Her make up was applied so heavily that her face seemed more prepared for the circus than a visit to Wayside. She had an intense conversation happening with the chair beside her. I thought I would try and make contact and so I sat on the chair on the other side of her. She looked at the chair and then at me and said, "You're not half as hot as him". I looked at the empty chair and said, "Well, he doesn't look like much". "Maybe" she said, "but he's twice as hot as you."

Our staff meetings happen usually in small teams but 4 times a year we get together as a full team. On Tuesday just gone, we met altogether and I'd like to tell you that I am so proud to be leading this team. This group of people possess marvellous qualifications and experience but mostly they have a quality of goodness that makes Wayside an extraordinary place. We had some serious stuff to discuss but after 40 minutes we organised a table tennis match in which all 30 people participated. The idea was that you had to hit the ball, drop the bat on the table and move away so the next person could play. The prize for the last person standing was dinner for two at the Wayside cafe (value $10). I believe Laura, who won the prize, is looking for a date. If I was 30 years younger, I would think that dinner with Laura on a land fill site would be romantic so I'm sure that lots of young men might like to be Laura's date at our cafe. Knowing Laura however, she's likely to find a way to turn this into a fundraiser for Wayside.

I'd like to make a quick suggestion before I sign off. A lot goes on at Wayside in any given week, a lot more than what I can fit in here. If you'd like to stay connected to Wayside and keep up to date with what's happening on our little patch of earth in the heart of the Cross, go to our Facebook page and 'Like' us.

Onwards and upwards, thanks for being part of our inner circle,

Graham

Click here to listen to podcasts of past Inner Circle's, aired on ABC 702's 'Afternoons with James Valentine'

Be sure to follow Graham on Twitter if you have an account; @waysidepastor