鈥淚鈥檓 lucky,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome get out and some don鈥檛. I鈥檓 working, too, so that鱿鱼视频app good.鈥�
I quoted the old street saying: 鈥淓veryone needs a home, a job and a friend.鈥�
鈥淲ell, I got two friends,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, I am really blessed.鈥�
With that his friend put down his beer and asked, 鈥淗ey Father, do you want a drink?鈥�
I told him I was 鈥渙n duty鈥� so better pass.
鈥淥K Father, but make sure you don鈥檛 go into that strip club at the end of the street. They鈥檒l steal your money, and they鈥檒l steal your soul.鈥�
I thanked him for his spiritual direction.
Turning the corner into the area that鱿鱼视频app a centre for violence and drugs, I came face to face with a man I had often seen but always avoided because his drug habit made him unpredictable. He glared at me in the dark of the streetlights and asked if I would give him money. I introduced myself and said I don鈥檛 carry money. Surprisingly, he stopped to chat and gave his name before walking away. I made a note to myself to say 鈥渉ello鈥� to him in passing.
I heard what sounded like a fight starting inside a bus shelter that had about 15 people surrounding it. I went to check the commotion, and to see if I knew any participants. Two girls seemed to be the protagonists. Another was acting as peacemaker.
Discretion being the better part of valour, I skirted the shelter and continued along the street that鱿鱼视频app a main area for prostitution. There are a few 鈥渞egulars鈥� I have come to know, and I always walk by to see how their lives are going. I was particularly interested in meeting a lady I have mentioned in a previous column who has ignored me for about six months.
She was not at her usual corner, but I saw her getting out of a car and walking back towards me. As she passed, I said, 鈥淗ello.鈥� I think, but am not certain, she gave a little wave and whispered, 鈥淗ello.鈥� I thought to myself, 鈥淏e patient and celebrate small advances.鈥�
After about an hour I returned to the bus shelter to find the group had swelled to over 20, all still milling around. Instead of skirting them, I decided to pass through the gaps. As I got near, one of the ladies recognized me and said, 鈥淕ood to see you again.鈥� She shouted to the group, 鈥淭he Reverend wants to say hello to you.鈥�
I was taken aback and wondered if I should give them a homily but instead just stammered, 鈥淗appy St. Patrick鱿鱼视频app Day everyone.鈥�
A lady appeared from inside the shelter and asked me if I do baptisms.
鈥淚 want my daughter baptized,鈥� she said.
I took her aside to talk. She said, 鈥淚 am native, and I hate what you guys did in the residential schools. I am not blaming you. I know you had nothing to do with it. But it is terrible.鈥�
I agreed much harm was done and it is indefensible.
鈥淲e have to treat one another as humans鈥� she said. 鈥淲e all have goodness in us and it does not matter what we have done, we are all still human. I had nine years sobriety, but I relapsed. I have had a drink tonight. It鱿鱼视频app hard to get off it.鈥�
I told her I could see she is a good person and that I have accompanied many women who have gone through it. If she wanted, I would help her.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app great what you are doing,鈥� she said, 鈥淕od bless you. Maybe one person like you gives people the hope they need. Like you talked with me tonight.鈥�
She turned and embraced me, and perhaps there was a little reconciliation in the midst of truth.
(Kinghorn is a deacon in the Archdiocese of Toronto.)