Confession Time. Last night, after wife and kids were safely tucked in and asleep, I quietly left the house. I knew that I shouldnt, knew what was likely to happen, but something compelled me to do it. To go see someone. Two someones. We met in the mist, under the old-fashioned lamps, behind the back of the angel. They were happy to see me, as I was them. My arrival filled them with warmth. We spent the night together, a night which was sometimes cool, sometimes hot, and always - if youll pardon the word - moist. I was soaking wet. So were they. I tore myself away just before dawn, knowing that if I did not depart them, I would never make it home before my family awakened. It would be difficult to explain what happened, to justify my coming in after a long night. How to explain the compulsions that took me there, and kept me from leaving? How to explain that I spent a long Saturday night, or Sunday morning if you prefer, in the company of two men? But now, decency and a sense of duty - compulsions, like those that sent me forth - compel me to tell you about it. To confess what I did. Forgiveness is not coming; thats not what this is about. It is about standing up and telling what my two companions have done. What I was a brief part of. And why. Last night, from about 12:30 to 6 (old time), I was with Mark Gauci and Donald Jason Hookey, at the National War Memorial, downtown St. Johns, keeping vigil for VETS Canada - NL in the fog and drizzle, and often pounding rain. Mark and Don did it from noon yesterday to noon today, to raise awareness of homeless veterans. I did it overnight to keep them company. If you want to experience what the homeless in Canada endure, then I suggest you do the same. Pick a bad-weather day. Then go stand in a spot there for as long as you can. Then consider that for some, this is how they live. (What, did you think I was making a sordid FB confession, like some other high-profile people? You should have your brain washed out with soap! Theres nothing dirty or untrue in anything I wrote. Its all in your head.)
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:54:20 +0000
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