stop for a minute.

I spent last Sunday at the drop in center, downtown Calgary, with a group of students that i have just met, and my friend Lisa. It was such a sweet opportunity, that required me and Lisa to make about 300 cookies, bundle up, and join this group outside the drop in center with donuts, cookies, and coffee.
All we did was wait. They made an announcement inside that we were there, and slowly many people who have been living on the streets, or in shelters, trickled in. Some just wanted a warm cup of coffee and some home made cookies, others came souly for the company.
I met a man named Robert. At first we thought he would just grab a coffee and skidaddle, but on the contrary we got to spend most of our afternoon talking to him.
He would leave, and come back, saying quite simply, that he doesnt get much of an opportunity to sit and visit and talk with people, who are genuinely interested in his life.
He ran to get his bible. I was excited, because he was so thrilled to recite verses he liked, and i read to him, because he couldnt read some of the words, and he would tell me not to be afriad, just to read, he just liked to hear the words on the page read i think.
He smiled, as he told us verses to read when we got home, and i smiled, knowing that he had hope.
Standing outside in the cold was horrible, it was freezing, but for the moment that they got their coffee and stuffed their pockets with cookies, their smile was the light at the end of the tunnel.
Thinking back on it, if i was having a horrible day, i was in a rutt, maybe i was in trouble, i find it hard to believe that for any moment, a cookie and a cup of coffee could fix my problems.
This was so real, and such a great experience, i cant wait to go back.
So after watching all the people who came, recieve that little bit of hope, a smile, and a silly home made cookie ive come to the realisation that maybe it really is the little things that keep us going.

Living for the little things.

Bree