I think an angel lives across the street…

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angels, believe, Calgary, compassion, courage, Diana Schwenk, doing the right thing, generosity, God, goodness, Homelessness, kindness, living in the moment, love, mercy, passion, Relationships, world issues

Something very beautiful happens across the street. And it’s been happening for quite some time, long enough so that I can’t pinpoint exactly when it started.

I don’t often see them go into the apartment complex across the street.

I’ve only seen two or three enter the building over the years.

They looked as if they’d lost all hope. Their bodies bent by some unseen weight on their shoulders.

As if every drop of strength had been beaten out of them.

Dirty

unkempt

under the influence

seemingly at the end of their rope.

No, I haven’t seen many go in, but I have seen them come out.

Usually between 8:00 and 9:00AM. Sometimes just one, other times they exit in groups of two or more. Always groomed. Clean clothes. A travel coffee mug in hand. And on their backs, a backpack that I imagine is filled with their meager belongings and maybe a snack for the road. Their bodies still bent, yet maybe a little less so.

I think an angel lives across the street.

A kind soul who takes pity on those who live on the fringes of society. A loving human being who gives them shelter at night. An angel of mercy who washes their clothes and lets them have a shower. A compassionate man or woman who may even feed them breakfast before they head out for the day to face the harsh reality of their lives on the street.

The actions of this angel do not end homelessness in this cold Canadian city. These actions do not provide a permanent solution to homelessness. But to each individual person who is touched by this angel, these actions must mean the whole world.

I don’t really know what happens across the street. But I believe I am witness to something quite extraordinary. The truth is, I don’t think knowing more is even necessary.

Something tells me the benefactor across the street is not doing it for recognition or praise. That shining a light too intensely on his or her kindness would somehow ruin these beautiful acts.

I think an angel lives across the street…and that’s enough for me.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

I have marveled and wondered a lot about the activities across the street over the years. Does your neighbourhood have an angel? Can you think of a time when you witnessed an act of compassion and kindness that touched you deeply?

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Grace

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angels, Calgary, calling, Charity, Diana Schwenk, dreams, friends, God, grace, growing up, joy, living in the moment, love, memories, mission, Purpose, Relationships, The Mustard Seed, vision

When I moved to Calgary in March 1990, I’d been sure for a number of years that I had a calling to work with the homeless. When I arrived I discovered Teen Challenge in the phonebook and called them immediately, convinced I could get a job there. They told me they didn’t hire women because staff had to be physically strong enough to handle when their clients were going through withdrawal.

I was disappointed and was starting to wonder if I had just imagined my calling. My roommate Bonnie decided she would take me out for lunch to cheer me up. When we had ordered our meal, Bonnie said grace. And by saying grace, I mean she said a very loud prayer over our lunch. I was mortified and embarrassed!

It caught the attention of a woman sitting all by herself at the other end of the restaurant and she came over to our table. “Hi, my name is Grace. Pardon me for just barging in but I’m new in town,” she said. “And I’m looking for a church that I can attend.” We talked about the church we attended and invited her to join us. She then focused her attention on me, remarking that I seemed sad. I told her my whole story; the calling, the long waiting, the disappointment – all of it.

“Why don’t you go check out the Mustard Seed,” she said. “It’s only a block and half away from here.” I thanked her for the information and she wrote her phone number and address on a piece of paper for me so that I could call her and make arrangements for her to attend my church.

After lunch, Bonnie and I headed over to the Mustard Seed. That’s where I met Adele. I asked her if I could speak to the head pastor and she picked up the phone to inquire about it. She told me he’d be awhile and invited us to sit and wait. While we waited we chatted with Adele. I’m sure I told her that I would be a brilliant hire or something like that. A young good-looking man wearing acid-washed jeans and a purple tie-dyed T-shirt stopped in and we chatted with him for 30 or 40 minutes.

Not being the most patient person in the world, I finally turned to Adele and said, “So when is this head pastor gonna show so I can talk with him?” She laughed and gestured toward Mr. Acid-washed Tie-Dye and said you’ve been talking to him for half an hour!

Tim Bonenfant, Diana Schwenk, Pat Nixon, Karen Cates, Herb White
Taken in 1991

After that day I began volunteering at the Mustard Seed and by the time this picture was taken for a magazine article, I was on staff as an Outreach Worker. In total I spent about 20 years at the Mustard Seed. When I left in 2010, I was the Chief Development Officer.

This past Saturday, I attended an informal ‘Old Mustard Seeders’ reunion. Now, 24 years after I first walked through the doors of The Mustard Seed, it was good to catch up with everyone. We shared about what we’re all up to now and talked about the good old days. Pat Nixon, who was the leader of the Mustard Seed for over 26 years told us we should be proud of what we were able to contribute in the time that we were there. And we are proud and grateful for everything we learned about life and what’s really important from our amazing street friends.

Trish Sonnenberg, Pat Nixon, Diana Schwenk, Chuck Harper, Adele Toews, Ty Ragan, Christie Halliday, Herb White
Photo taken March 29, 2014

We plan to get together again, perhaps for a picnic in the summer, with many others who couldn’t attend this past Saturday.

~

Oh yes, and what about Grace? I called her for weeks and weeks and her phone just rang and rang and rang. Finally, I got on a bus and went to the address she’d given me. It was a long-abandoned, empty lot.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ~ Hebrews 13:2

 ~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

 

 

In 1973 God blew a Big Bazooka Bubble

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angels, Art, caring, children, Christmas, creativity, Diana Schwenk, Eric Schachter, Events, generosity, God, growing up, imagination, joy, kindness, memories, music, parents, teacher

He helped me spread out my wings and taught me to fly..

For me the 1973/74 school year is one I will always remember fondly.

I was incredibly shy back then – painfully so. Up until the 5^th grade my only wish was to blend in, to be invisible.

But Grade 5 would change all that. Grade 5 would give me an opportunity to spread my wings.

Enter Mr. Schachter – a 28 year-old, long and curly-haired, brilliant and unconventional teacher.

Eric, as he insisted we call him, brought me out of my shell and taught me to love the Arts.

While all the other teachers focussed on the 3 R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic), Eric inspired us to write long and imaginative compositions.

He taught us to play musical instruments like the autoharp and guitar.

Other times we would sit and listen to records with our eyes closed and once we had a dancing contest, in which I won a 45 – Smokin’ in the Boys Room.

I also joined the after school video club where we created animated films by shooting a few frames, changing the position of paper cut-out characters or clay figures, and then shooting a few more frames and so on.

Or we would make people appear or disappear using the same method. These shorts films were magical and so satisfying to create!

My favourite memory though, has to be the Christmas play we produced.

We had been divided into groups of 4 -6 kids and each group was tasked with the responsibility of creating a short skit that portrayed what Christmas meant to us.

My group did a family scene. I was the mother and Mr. Schachter was thrilled with my costume, saying he knew he could count on me to come up with something excellent.

I had stuffed one of Mom’s bras and wore a turtleneck, skirt and low-heeled shoes – that’s what Moms in the 70s looked like, right?

All the groups had practiced our skits but none of us knew how the play would come together. All we knew was our own skit and that we would all sing a song we’d practiced in class at the end.

When the stage curtains opened on the night of the play, the audience was greeted by none other than God (a football player-sized black boy who blew a big Bazooka Gum bubble)

I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that Vance, who played God, improvised his entire part.

One-by-one our little groups went out onto the stage and performed our skits and Vance, a-hem – I mean God, would share his thoughts about the goings-on after each group was done.

In the end, the theme that had threaded itself throughout the play was love.

When you strip away everything else – love remains.

Then we sang our finale – All you need is love by the Beatles.

It wasn’t a traditional Christmas play. It wasn’t what our parents were expecting, I’m sure.

Later I’d learned that Dad had turned to Mom and asked who that guitar-playing hippy was.

“That’s Diana’s teacher,” Mom said.

To which Dad just raised his eyebrows in bewildered amusement.

Many times since then I’ve searched for Eric Schachter.

You see, he left before the year ended. I’m guessing he was a little too unconventional for some folks at that time.

I can still remember the Monday morning that we showed up to find the Vice Principal was our substitute teacher.

He didn’t tell us why…

only that Mr. Schachter was gone and that he had left a little something for each of us in our desks.

I reached into my desk and found a Neil Diamond Album. It came with a card.

Dearest Diana,

I was thrilled to find that I’d kept this card!

I’d send you a horse for Christmas but I can’t find a big enough envelope. I’m sure that you have had a good year, you are a person who is strong and able to make the best of life. I often see your warm and smiling face in my imagination. Even if we never meet again I shall always feel for you and be wishing God to smile down on you. You are probably as tall as me by now, and a lot prettier!

All my best wishes for the new year and the changing seasons.

All my love, Eric

I still google his name every now and then but remain unsuccessful in my search.

Eric Schachter, if you’re out there somewhere and happen to read this post…

I just want to say THANK YOU for helping me spread out my wings and teaching me to fly.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

There are people who like angels come into your life for a brief time yet manage to colour your world beautiful and change your life forever.

I’d love to hear about your angels in the comment section.