Life in the DTES

I've been here for almost two weeks now, so I've decided that this would be a good day to say a little something about life down here. 

Here's the thing: people are people, wherever you go. People on the street are not monsters, not evil, and not all murderers, rapists, and gang members. In fact, you are probably more likely to run in to one of those types in Abbotsford or Surrey than you are here in the DTES. Here, the people are addicted to any of a variety of substances, often mentally ill, and poor. Yes, they are often unpredictable and hard to communicate with, but they are also Good, and loved by God.

I've been learning this week what it means to be Small. I'm very purposefully limiting my focus to today, and ignoring as much as I can what may or may not happen a week, month, or year from now. I live for today, and the most important question I ask is 'how do I love better?'

So this is my new motto that has emerged from the DTES: Live small, love huge. It sounds so simple in premise, but in practice I think it will take me a lifetime to fully grasp.