How To Be Human

This morning at our Bondi centre, I was greeted by an old familiar face — someone who usually frequents our Kings Cross location. He wrapped me in a warm hug with a jovial “Hey, good morning, great to see you!” I must have looked stunned, because he burst out laughing. “Let me translate that for you, Jon,” he said with a grin. “Back in Kings Cross, that same greeting would’ve be ‘What are you looking at, b*#%?'”

Now don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of colourful language around Bondi Beach too, but perhaps the drugs of choice create a different kind of social chemistry when you’re closer to the big smoke. Same person, same heart, completely different delivery depending on the postcode.

Last week I was invited to sit next to someone who currently sleeps in a doorway. She is one of those people whose spirit transcends her circumstance. She smiled and asked me, “What’s one small thing today that has brought you a crazy amount of joy?” What a beautiful question! I bought myself a few minutes by tossing it back to her: “You don’t get out of it that easily!” A bit of banter helps my brain catch up, and after a few minutes of laughter, it came to me.

We’d recently had a working bee where our showers and bathrooms were completely refreshed. A hardworking crew of legends poured some serious sweat equity to ensure our facilities are first-class. Among the crew were faces I recognised from different walks of life, people who know firsthand the pain of incarceration and its accompanying shame. The other volunteers had no idea, because while their past had led them to this moment, it wasn’t defining them or dragging them back.

We’d closed for the renovations and right at the end of the day, during pack-up, someone appeared needing help. I’ll be honest, I was more keen to finish the long day and get home than anything else. Thankfully, these three legends took the time to care for this young man with a level of attention that put me to shame. Nothing highlights your own poor practice quite like watching others do it properly.

The heart operates on its own rhythm, swaying between open and closed, generous and self-focused. Perhaps being human is simply accepting that sometimes our hearts will be out of sync with the moment. Thankfully these three wise men were a reminder that it takes a community of compassion rather than a lone ranger to get the job done.

The showers that hardworking crew just renovated will be used more than 12,000 times this year, giving our visitors a clean, safe place to wash and a moment of warmth and safety. So next Tuesday, on Wayside Chapel’s annual Giving Day, we’re hosting some very special friends of Wayside to re-open the showers with a splash (there might even be a tv crew or two about — keep an eye out for more on Tuesday). It costs us $481,000 to operate the showers each year, and this Giving Day that’s our goal: raise enough to fund a whole year of showers for people who need them.

Sometimes the hearts of the masses need a jumpstart to remember how good they’ve got it, that a simple shower can be the thing that brings a crazy amount of joy.

Thank you for being part of the Inner Circle.