Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Special women

Zac's has been good for the last three weeks. Well, I wasn't there last week as I was in Devon but I heard it was good. Sean's been in Australia and while he's been away we've been hearing stories each week from a couple of regulars about their lives and Bible verses that have been important to them.

Before we got started last night Gerry showed me his feet. Living rough in the weather we've had over the past few weeks has been especially hard on his feet, the skin of which was cracked and raw. He had some new boots and he was rummaging in the Zac's store for socks. His feet were in a really dreadful condition but, oh my, they ponged to high heaven.

There's a lady, a nurse, who's volunteered with the homeless for years, tending their feet, cuts and colds. I have enormous respect for her, a fact that was brought home to me again last night: there was absolutely no way I could have touched - or even gone near - Gerry's feet. My stomach would have turned.

Another lady who was there last night was telling me about her job working with 'difficult' teenagers and when she said difficult, she meant violent, foul-mouthed, obnoxious young people. She is another whom I admire tremendously. She and others like her fill a vital need and get paid, in some cases, little more than the minimum wage.

When we hear of bankers getting huge bonuses, we surely have to ask: where is fairness in this world? These women don't do what they do for the money; their motives are selfless. Which makes them all the more worthy of respect.

6 comments:

Leslie: said...

Oh my yes! Life doesn't seem fair sometimes, does it? But they will get their reward in heaven...

I assume "pong" means "smell" - am I right?

Anonymous said...

they are better people than those revolting bankers and their worthless 'money' ...

jay said...

Oh, poor Gary - but I'd be with you, hoping desperately that no-one would ask me to actually touch those feet! :( I can nurse the stinkiest animals, but please don't ask me to nurse any person who isn't directly related to me!

You all have my admiration and respect, for being in the right place at the right time, whether you can handle stinky feet or not. ;)

Anonymous said...

Bankers rhymes with ..... ;0)


There are some amazing people out there, its heart warming to know that people care.

Suburbia said...

Special indeed.

Poor Gerry, it's great that you are all there for him.

NitWit1 said...

AsI contribute my miserly public and charitable service, I realize there are so many who dare to be more involved and less judgemental than I am. I look up to them and try to be more like tham.

Some of these women probably could use some monetary reward. It seems the most compassionate in helping are also the least advantaged monetarily.