Hope

Today was another Diamond Moment. I have ceased to be amazed at how this whole project in falling into place it is starting to create itself. Ever since I let go of this project and surrendered it to the GREAT MYSTERY, things have settled into place in ways I never could describe. It is really Art. Have you ever tried to make a" good " painting and it looks over worked and over done. (Like a older woman with too much makeup.)

It all started when I went to the New Heights Church on Sunday. They meet at the Clarke theatre. I have been dropping in there now and again, ever since I felt intuitively that I must go to the park with This Diamond Community brochure about the individual and community. The speaker was saying, "I don't know why I felt this during prayer right now, but I want to talk about the individual and community"... !!! They must have a part somehow, especially since they are an outreach church. On Sunday, Greg was speaking about waiting... and that waiting sometimes was like being pregnant and we are enlarged by the experience. He played the video called "the marshmallow test" and smiled in relief, knowing I was in the right place for it has felt like such a long slog at this art for social change project sometimes.

Afterwards, I picked up a brochure that said StreetHope " ~working with the marginalized to get them of the street and keep them that way through ongoing relationships with people and communities and God. Since Voices of One* forum theatre is all about marginalized people I thought that I should call them. So I did today. Shelagh Neilson answered and shortly she was at my studio that is the top floor of the Arts Center.

Shelagh started to talk about what she does. She is a pensioner and she feeds 60 people 5 days a week out of her own pocket. It is a need and she fills it. This woman is such a Diamond. Bright, shiny and resilient. She is not even a morning person, but faithfully she takes her fibromyalgia body to the X station and feeds a group of Missions transient and poor. 18 cans of coffee a month! It has become a community of sorts, a family. Now remember she is doing this mostly out of her own pocket since she took over in August. Her teammate Ann helps and Cobbs bread donates.

The way the sparks fly from her eyes I can tell she is connected to an inner power that keeps her going. Like the ever- ready bunny... just keeps going and going...She defines "God" as the Creator of Love and Love Itself. It is through many religions she feels that people can connect in their own way to that Source, her battery charger. You know, something is working for her, for not a day goes by that one mouth is left unfed. Her motto on the brochure is "And know that all things work together for good to them who are called according to His purpose. "- I think she is the living proof of that.

She has the only free Community Christmas dinner open in Mission on Christmas day. There may be 125-300 people. She says " Somehow God knows just how many people are showing up, I haven't figured that out yet, but it always happens."

"God just wants all his children to love, and our goal is to take hope to the streets. I may not be able to do something today but down the road they will know they do have choices. Its about planting seeds." she smiled knowingly and I can see the compassion she has and the fulfillment she gets out of the work. Her dream is to put on nightly workshops, but for now the morning breakfast is her place.

When talking about Voices of One*the homeless and Youth at Risk. She pips up. Youth at risk are some of the most talented. They are the ones who can't be put into ridgid slots that the school system wants them to be. Some of the homeless and addicts are some of the greatest artists. Here we stood at the top floor of a struggling financially Art Center and all this talent and potential to be tapped! This made a lot of sense. So glad to find a like mind. She could think of a few people off hand that may be able to work on the social theatre art project and placed carefully in different varying degrees of involvement, since she knows them so well, it will be a great asset to Voices of ONE*. She sees the virtue in each one, no matter how they are showing up and NEVER ever will ban anyone from StreetHopes doors.

You can leave your food donations for StreetHope at the "Compass Rose". This is the new restaurant that took over from Stellas. It has a eight point star as its logo, which I am working on for them. ( hmmm talk about connectedness) After a energy filled meeting with Delaney Rose and new owner/manager Davena Dyck, ( all of rebels from a mennonite background) they have a box of stuffed animals so are handing them out Friday for Random Acts of Kindness Day (www.mission.ca/joinme) and a 10% off coupons. Delaney Rose will be playing there Christmas Eve 5-10pm.

The theme of the Compass and the Rose is bringing the world to Mission. The Tourism team should like that. Follow www.twitter.com/investmission. I told her about the www.Scenic7BC.com. and how they are planning tourists to come through here in this marketing idea.

I will hopefully be meeting with Kusum of the Multi-Cultural Society this week and suggesting that the people here in Mission with foreign roots could bring down their art and artifacts to hang on the walls in circulating exhibitions. This could also be something the Arts Council teams up with to highlight multi-cultural artists and so artists talks there at the center/gallery/tearoom.

We are holding a Voices of ONE* fundraiser FEB 4th at the Compass Rose. Looking forward to a great community pre-show celebration and publicity time. Mark your calendar!