Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you think you're helping someone, but in reality they end up helping you? I find myself in that position quite a lot nowadays.
Whether it's at Credo, at home or work, with family, just about everywhere I go, I encounter this role reversal, and each and every time I am surprised by it.
My most recent reality-check was this morning. We were gathering for 15 minutes before we started serving lunch. As part of this time we often sing a few songs. I had been busy adding the finishing touches to the chicken and dumpling soup we were about to eat, and so missed the first couple of songs.
As I joined the circle and started singing with the rest of the group, an amazing thing happened. One of the women, who is a regular at Credo, smiled and gestured to me to come in closer. Now, I had been in Credo since shortly after 10am that morning, I'd been boiling and chopping and frying in that kitchen for almost two hours. But something about that gesture, and that smile made me feel more welcome in the space, than any of the cooking I could do. I realised, in that moment, that I was accepted, irrespective of what I had, or did.
It's like when someone says to me, "Oh, you're such a good person for doing what you do." I feel like saying to them, if only you knew, if only you knew how much I gain for the little I give.
Friday 27 May 2011
Friday 20 May 2011
By way of introduction:
As we were talking about the blog this afternoon Danyelle came up with a wonderful suggestion: "Why don't each of us explain how we came to be at Credo?"
Mehrin's perspective:
I found out about Credo Cafe around three years ago now, through a friend from church. He invited me to come and see what he did during the week. We met at the Town Hall on Swanston St and he led me up little Collins St, and down a dead-end laneway. At first I didn't know what to think, as he banged on a glass window and someone came to the door. I remember coming into Credo for the first time, and sitting at the table, asking what was for lunch. "Spag Bol" someone said, and I thought, great, no worries, this'll be delish! Then my mate told me it was made with kangaroo mince..."What!" I said, blawking at the thought of eating kangaroo. "It's roo!" he said again, trying to keep it quiet. Now, I have tried many exotic foods over the years: tripe, lamb's testicles, centurian egg...the list goes on, but never before, had I even thought about eating kangaroo. What was I to do? I was a guest, I didn't want to be rude. So, I tried a little bit, it was so rich, after three or four mouthfuls I was full, I excused myself from the table and cleared my plate.
Food aside, my first few experiences of Credo were eye opening. I couldn't believe how many people were university educated, and yet still found themselves sleeping rough, or in bed-sits and boarding houses. My knowledge of homelessness and it's impact, was next to nothing before I started hanging out at Credo. Now I learn so much, each week, as we sit down to lunch together.
Mehrin's perspective:
I found out about Credo Cafe around three years ago now, through a friend from church. He invited me to come and see what he did during the week. We met at the Town Hall on Swanston St and he led me up little Collins St, and down a dead-end laneway. At first I didn't know what to think, as he banged on a glass window and someone came to the door. I remember coming into Credo for the first time, and sitting at the table, asking what was for lunch. "Spag Bol" someone said, and I thought, great, no worries, this'll be delish! Then my mate told me it was made with kangaroo mince..."What!" I said, blawking at the thought of eating kangaroo. "It's roo!" he said again, trying to keep it quiet. Now, I have tried many exotic foods over the years: tripe, lamb's testicles, centurian egg...the list goes on, but never before, had I even thought about eating kangaroo. What was I to do? I was a guest, I didn't want to be rude. So, I tried a little bit, it was so rich, after three or four mouthfuls I was full, I excused myself from the table and cleared my plate.
Food aside, my first few experiences of Credo were eye opening. I couldn't believe how many people were university educated, and yet still found themselves sleeping rough, or in bed-sits and boarding houses. My knowledge of homelessness and it's impact, was next to nothing before I started hanging out at Credo. Now I learn so much, each week, as we sit down to lunch together.
Thursday 19 May 2011
Well, here we are...
HELLO, We're here, sending our message out into the ether of cyberspace. Over the next few weeks we will be finding our feet and hoping to reflect on the work that we do at Urban Seed's Credo Cafe. This blog is mainly going to be for our personal reflections and muddlings as we go about our work, but it may interest you too. If so, read along with us as we learn about life and community together.
Danyelles perspective:
At certain points over my time at Credo two teenage boys have suddenly appeared in the cafe. They are brothers, who've seemed know everyone. I can see them now, standing in front of the counter laughing and joking with the men and women at Credo.I had thought for some time that their dad was a certain man. Well, I found out today that they were actually someone else's boys! What a surprise. I was fascinated by this shift in perception of who belonged to who. I was telling Mehrin about this and she said she thougt it was a bit like how they say it takes a village to raise a child. That the boys were so integrated into the community that I couldn't tell who they belonged to. They just belonged. How beautiful is that sentence. They have their preferences of whats cool and what's not but they are accepted and considered a part of the goings on. I wish more teenage boys could have that.
Danyelles perspective:
At certain points over my time at Credo two teenage boys have suddenly appeared in the cafe. They are brothers, who've seemed know everyone. I can see them now, standing in front of the counter laughing and joking with the men and women at Credo.I had thought for some time that their dad was a certain man. Well, I found out today that they were actually someone else's boys! What a surprise. I was fascinated by this shift in perception of who belonged to who. I was telling Mehrin about this and she said she thougt it was a bit like how they say it takes a village to raise a child. That the boys were so integrated into the community that I couldn't tell who they belonged to. They just belonged. How beautiful is that sentence. They have their preferences of whats cool and what's not but they are accepted and considered a part of the goings on. I wish more teenage boys could have that.
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