• About Me
  • DEBQ
  • The Other Bottom Line
  • Why I do Friday Pick
  • About My Blog

talktodiana

~ Igniting the power and passion in others…

talktodiana

Tag Archives: poverty

The Bike Messenger

11 Sunday May 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, My Stories

≈ 36 Comments

Tags

200 words, coffee, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, God, Homelessness, integrity, lessons, life, listen, living in the moment, love, poverty, Purpose, Who I am

When love and skill work together… expect a masterpiece. ~ John Ruskin

Photo credit: 2jere2beseder.com

Photo credit: 2jere2beseder.com

Friday was a beautiful, sunny day so my bestest friend invited me for coffee on our favourite bench in Tomkins Park.

As soon as we sat down, Michael rode in on his bike with an important message on his heart.

The most life-changing lessons I have learned over the years,  have come from people experiencing homelessness.

One can learn a lot about what is important from those who have very little.

“Who you are isn’t who you are,” he said. 

“I am native. I am homeless. But that is not who I am.

That is not who God sees. You have to look deeper than that to see.”

Michael continued, “When you know who you are, you can act from love and do what you’re meant to do.”

Then he added, “I’m hungry. Going to eat some chicken now and then I’ll be looking for a wife. So if you’re still here when I get back…”

As he left, I turned to my friend and said, “Yeah, so we should go now,”  She laughed.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Advertisement

Grateful

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, In My Opinion

≈ 38 Comments

Tags

attitude, Diana Schwenk, dreams, grateful, happy, health, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, perception, poverty, wealth

It’s Tuesday morning as I write this and set the WordPress schedule to publish automatically on Wednesday morning for the Hump Day Chronicles.

I’ve done that because this afternoon (Tuesday)  I’m driving to Camrose to spend a couple of days with my daughter. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen her and I’m grateful  she has Wednesday off so we can catch up and I can see her new place.

So for this week, I won’t be writing about the process I’m undergoing on what’s next for me and The Other Bottom Line. Instead, inspired by a tweet I read on Monday I want to write about being grateful.

grateful

Someone else is praying for the things you take for granted #StayGrateful

A few years back I had a conversation with a man who runs a street ministry in Toronto. I don’t remember everything we talked about but one thing he said stuck in my mind to this day. He said that 97% of the world considers me a millionaire.

The truth is while I may be wrestling with what I want to do with my life.

Others are struggling with where they will get their next meal; how they will survive one more day.

I may be looking around my apartment thinking I need to update its look.

Others are looking for shelter from the sun and rain under the awning of a building and being shooed away for loitering.

Maybe I’m struggling in personal relationships; fighting over unimportant issues, while others are completely alone with no one to talk to.

That Monday tweet was a timely reminder for me. I know I’m happier when I live my life from a place of gratefulness.

And I am grateful.

Grateful  for family and good friends.

Grateful  that I have a place to live and food in my belly.

Grateful  for all the opportunities my life has extended to me.

Grateful  for you and all the things I learn from you.

Grateful  for the reminder that someone else is praying for the things I take for granted.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What are you grateful for?

Generosity or Charity?

17 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, In My Opinion

≈ 46 Comments

Tags

200 words, Albert Camus, Charity, compassion, generosity, giving, have nots, haves, joy, love, poverty

Too many have dispensed with generosity in order to practice charity. ~ Albert Camus

I have to admit that when I first read this quote it seemed odd to me.

It sounds like Mr. Camus thinks less of charity than generosity.stock-footage-handing-over-money

I find it interesting that he found it necessary to distinguish between the two.

In an effort to understand the difference, I looked up the definition of both words.

definitions

These definitions seem to suggest that generosity is an act of giving regardless of the existence of need.

And charity is focussed on bringing relief to the poor.

Generosity is giving because it brings joy.

Charity is a compassionate response motivated by love and a desire to improve someone’s condition.

Perhaps one could even say that generosity is more spontaneous and fun – a way to surprise someone.

And charity is more thoughtful and planned – a way for the ‘haves’ to ease the discomfort of the ‘have nots.’

Is generosity more freely given?

Is charity motivated by a sense of duty?

Or is the line more fuzzy than clear?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What do you think?

Would you say that you are generous or charitable?

A few moments in the cold

21 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, My Stories

≈ 46 Comments

Tags

Calgary, cold, courage, Diana Schwenk, Homelessness, joy, poverty, tattered coat, winter, wisdom

“Wisdom often lurks beneath a tattered coat.” ~ Caecilius Statius

It was a bitterly cold winter day.

The kind of day where I just wanted to stay in bed.

But it was a work day so I got my coffee, showered and dressed in layers – lots of layers!

I reluctantly went outside to start my car.

It took a couple of tries.

I was shivering and chilled to the bone.

I cursed the morning and muttered something about hating winter.

A few moments later I headed to work.

Once parked, I got out and began to walk the one block to my office.

I planned to walk fast, so as to spend the least amount of time outdoors.

But my path was blocked by a homeless man coming toward me.

He was struggling to push his shopping cart through the snow.

“Move!” I silently screamed.

As if in response, the man threw his hands into the air, turned his face up to the sky and said, “Isn’t it glorious?”

“Isn’t what glorious?” I snapped with irritation.

“The sun,” he replied.

It’s all about attitude

Have you ever been freed of petty grumblings by an unlikely messenger?

Isn’t it glorious?

He was a cantankerous SOB…

03 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, My Stories

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

compassion, Diana Schwenk, Homeless Bill of Right, Homelessness, passion, poverty

….But he taught me an important lesson

I wrote the following story (with minor edits and photos added) when asked to do a guest post for a friend in April. She believes that there is power in our stories and teaches me everyday how important it is to make a difference through her blog A Year of Making a Difference. Go ahead, have a look, she’s amazing .

I first met William in the early 90’s while I was volunteering at a local coffee-house that served the homeless. William, known as Wild Bill on the streets and for good reason, was one of the most cantankerous individuals you could ever meet.

Portrait of homeless man
Courtesy of Wikipedia

Just to give you an idea of what I mean I once saw him sitting on the steps of First Baptist Church as I was walking down 4th Street. I was still several blocks away when my stomach tightened in knots as I watched a woman riding a bike on the sidewalk approach him.

Because I had met Bill several times before, I knew she was in trouble. My walk became a trot as I silently prayed she would cross the street or turn off in another direction. But she didn’t, she stayed on course, a path that would lead her straight to Bill.

I was too late. As she rode by him, Bill pushed her over on her bike sending her crashing to the sidewalk.

To say that my relationship with Bill had a rocky start is a gross understatement. The first time I met him, I was leaning against the doorpost of the coffee-house watching him walk up the stairs toward me. As he walked in I barely got out a “Hey, how you doing’?” when he shoulder checked me, almost knocking me on my backside.

For some reason, I liked him instantly!

The next three months weren’t much different. Every time I saw him, I’d say hello and my greetings were reciprocated with a blue cloud of cussing and screaming. Finally, one day, I screamed back. “Hey Bill!”

That got his attention.

“Why are you always yelling at me? What the heck have I ever done to you??”

I can only guess that my outburst shocked him. Sheepishly, he hung his head. After a few moments (that felt like an eternity) he responded with, “I don’t know….I guess I just want to reject you before you get a chance to reject me.”

I saw him sitting on the steps of First Baptist Church

Time went by and eventually Bill had disappeared from the landscape. Occasionally I would think of him and wonder what happened to him.

Finally I imagined the worst and presumed he had died.

Flash forward ten years: I was in my office talking to one of my staff when my phone rang. “Diana! There’s a real A-hole at the door who wants to see you now and he won’t take NO for an answer,” said the frantic doorman.

My heart went into my throat. Bill – it had to be!

As I approached, Bill was still yelling at the doorman. When I called out to him he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me; tears streamed down his face as he hugged me and spoke softly into my ear.

You see he came to thank me for never giving up on him. He came to tell me that he now managed a restaurant in Lethbridge. He came to tell me that every night when his shift ends he goes out into the streets with sandwiches for the homeless and tells them that if they ever decide they want to get off the streets, he will help them.

By this point I was crying as well. I told him how very proud of him I was.

And then as quickly as he had arrived, he climbed into his Cadillac and drove off.

Often we don’t know that we’ve made a difference but if my relationship with Wild Bill has taught me anything it’s to never stop trying.

Is there someone who has made a difference in your life?

Have you made a difference in someone else’s life?

I would be honoured if you shared your story with me below.

Related articles
  • RI considers first ‘Homeless Bill of Rights’ (cflhomeless.wordpress.com)

True Generosity

20 Sunday May 2012

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, In My Opinion, Out and About

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Charity, Diana Schwenk, generosity, poverty

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.  Mark 12:44

Yesterday I bought groceries.

The Widow’s Mite

The total came to $27.35.

I had $27 even.

In swoops a homeless man to the rescue!

I’ve seen it a hundred times. And each time I am amazed.

A homeless man giving his gloves to a cold outreach worker.

A single mother sharing food she can barely afford with her child’s friend.

A hungry family in the third world sharing the best that they have with a stranger.

These acts happen every day. Mostly unnoticed. Immediately forgotten.

Yet some people have no trouble remembering how bad that homeless man smelled.

They are thankful that they were smart enough not to find themselves in the same situation as that single mother – that tramp.

And take great pride that their hard work has paid off  – not like that lazy family. How shameful!

It’s odd but I know that when I’ve been in the most need, I’ve also been the most generous. Maybe it’s because that last two bucks wouldn’t really make a difference to me anyway.

Talk to Diana


"I RELATE WITH, PROMOTE AND SPEAK COMMUNITY WHEREVER I AM..."

Flag Counter

Enter your email address to follow my blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,935 other subscribers

Categories

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Top Posts & Pages you’ve been reading

  • Generosity or Charity?
  • What is Done in Love is Done Well

Archives

Links you've been clicking on...

  • talktodiana.files.wordpre…
  • talktodiana.files.wordpre…

Red Deer Alberta

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Blog Stats

  • 104,890 hits

My Online Community

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • talktodiana
    • Join 1,173 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • talktodiana
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...