Saturday, March 07, 2009

All of us must change the way we think

Ric Matthews, Minister of First United Church on the Downtown Eastside gets it. People are on a path, often because of a choice they made years ago and often because of things that were done to them that they clearly did not ask for. We have to meet people on the path they are on.

Homelessness is a path, dependence is a path, sex trade work is a path. Very few would say that they would choose that path if they knew what it was going to be like. But it is their path now and getting off it and onto another path can be really hard.

If we as a society really want to help people choose another path, first we have to be willing and able to meet them where they are.

Kudo's to Ric Matthews for opening the doors to his church and for being willing and able to meet people, accept people, where they are now.

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