Spirituality and Gratitude
Whether in the Christian world or any other world to
do with the spiritual discovery of self I believe spirituality does have a huge
play in having an attitude of Gratitude.
One of my favourite scriptures in the Bible is from the book of
Galatians 5:22,23 & 25 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith; Meekness, temperance; against such
there is no law; If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”! That
scripture was taken from the King James Version of the Bible! When you have
an attitude of gratitude you feel loving, you feel joy you experience peace you
endure you are kind and gentle towards others and yourself, you are a good well
versed person and all the good things in life will flow to us when we have an
attitude of Gratitude.
Day 10: 20th January 2012 last night I met the lady that was to be my roommate.
She was a sweet older lady, or at least she seemed older because of her life
choices, she was harmless to others but killing herself, a self-confessed chronic
alcoholic whose only son was in the mater hospital recovering from a road
accident and needed lots of operations. She was originally from Co Carlow. I
could see the pain in her eyes and you could tell behind her weather beaten
face her true beauty. Every now and then she’d remember a happy time and smile.
It was electric, I could feel myself welling up every time that happened.
Now she spends her days in train stations tapping people for money! I'd
learnt a new word to add to my homeless education. I didn't know what tapping
was, well my understanding was when you want someone attention you tap them on
the shoulder, now tapping had a different
definition.
This evening I met my new house sharing peeps. I was informed tomorrow I
meet my key worker and I’ll fill in a holistic needs assessment.
There is an insufficient supply of appropriate
and affordable homes for people in poverty and people who are homeless. People
who experience poverty may live in poor quality private rented housing, have
rent arrears, be under eviction proceedings or have no security of tenure.
Housing costs such as high rents increase the poverty risk of people living in
private rented houses or flats/apartments.
Fast Forward…………27 October 2012
Before I head out I needed to document this experience. Last night whilst
waiting for the bus there was a man at the bus stop, he was old and worn out
looking, all bent over, had a lot of bags and he looked down n out. I wasn't
far wrong.
Eventually the silence was broken by him saying I hope the bus comes
soon I need to get to my hostel by 9:30. We then ended up having a conversation
or in other words I started interviewing him :-)
What an incredible individual.
What a non life he had! The system had definitely failed this incredible man.
As I shook his hand his beautiful soft caring hand and congratulated him for
being sober and off drugs for three years now the smile on his worn out but
beautiful face made my light brighter.
I'm so grateful for the confidence I
have back in not being afraid to talk to anyone I meet like this. It makes me
see clearer and join the dots. We are all from the same place, we are all
responsible. We can all make a difference. Remember there is no law against
being good, Kind, loving etc. I know my faith and my religious knowledge has
carried me through my homeless journey, I know my homeless experience has made
me a more humble person, it’s changed my life for the better. I have met some
amazing people whose stories have turned me around and my gratitude for all I
have is immeasurable.
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