The Drop-In Update, October 2013
521 Rideau Street
Ottawa, ON, K1N 5Z5
[email protected]
Let Us Love
Why did Paulina die? Some would say because of substance abuse, as she died attempting to
walk across the Ottawa River in the winter while under the influence. Others who look beyond
the substance abuse may attribute this death of this Aboriginal woman to the scars of residential
schooling and other devastating wounds from her past. After eight years of friendship, Timothy
would go much deeper than these lived realities to explain that though Paulina was a very intelligent woman, she was unable to understand that she was loved.
1 John 4:7 reads, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves
has been born of God and knows God.” And goes on to say in verses 15-16, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know
and to believe the love that God has for us.”
We begin each day at CCM in prayer and we ask God that our community might know the
love of Christ. Our ministry is about much more than a nominal understanding of charity. The
Drop-In provides a context for people to know love. In Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis explains,
“’Charity’ now means simply what used to be called ‘alms’ – that is, giving to the poor. Originally it had a much wider meaning… Charity means ‘Love, in the Christian sense’. But love in
the Christian sense, does not mean an emotion. It is a state not of the feelings but of the will;
that state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have about
other people.” While Lewis correctly connects charity to love, there are many in our community
who do not feel this love naturally about themselves. For these friends recognizing the love of
others, and of God, does not come easily.
A PLACE TO FIND HELP
A PLACE TO FIND FRIENDSHIP
Let Us Love (continued)
Peter began his discipleship of Jesus saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord”
(Luke 5:8). His starting point was recognizing his separation from God. But from that day
forward he spent three years with Jesus, learning what it is to have fellowship with our loving
Lord. Many in our community have had experiences that cause them to feel a great separation
from others. This separation and loneliness makes it hard to see the love of their perfect
heavenly father.
We strive daily to show Christ’s love. Sometimes this takes the form of listening, sitting quietly,
sitting side by side at a funeral service, playing a game, offering an extra sandwich, going to a
birthday party, reflecting together on the injustices of our world, and answering questions about
Christ. When individuals do not feel loveable it makes it difficult to recognize these gestures
of love. It even prevents individuals from taking care of themselves. Most recently at CCM,
showing love meant convincing somebody of the need to go to the hospital. Without a proper
understanding of God’s love, even basic care can become a difficult task.
It is because of the saving work of Christ, that we strive to show love. We believe Christ’s
welcoming words, “Come unto me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and
I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). It is our role in this unfolding Kingdom to come alongside
others and share this message.
Keltie Davidson
A Staff Reflection
Melodi experienced love this summer when she became part of the Capital City Mission
community. The following are Melodi’s reflections, after being hired as CCM’s summer student
in 2013.
This summer I learned that Huguette drinks her tea black, David takes his coffee double,
double, and that Jeff prefers peanut butter and jam to any other sandwich.
It’s the best thing I’ve learned all year.
I learned this at the Drop-In, where I’ve had the privilege of working these past two months.
It’s a place where “the poor” cease to exist as a mere demographic and become individuals with
names, preferences, and life stories. It’s a place where free coffee and a place to sit translates
into something quite profound: a place of belonging.
Everybody needs a place to belong. But, in our society, this can be a harder need to fill, for
those who are disadvantaged. Poverty means lack of material goods, but for many, it also
means marginalization and isolation. A place that offers friendship and a space to exist, helps to
address some of this stigma.
Jesus understood this. He didn’t just feed the poor. He knew the poor. He hung out with them.
I think he would have appreciated the challenge of Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian priest, who
said: “So, you say you love the poor? Name them.”
Summer is over now and it’s back to school for me. But I’ll be back to visit the Drop-In.
Because sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and maybe sandwich
preference.*
Melodi Alopaeus
*Melodi wrote her reflection during the
last week of August and visited us again in
mid-September. As she walked in she
received much more than somebody
welcoming her by name. Huguette showed
love with a welcoming hug, and sang
several verses of a welcoming song, which
included Melodi’s name. There was a
special friendship formed this summer
which will last, I am sure, for quite some
time.
Thanksgiving:
This coming weekend is Thanksgiving and many of
us will take time during a church service or around a
table with family and friends to share what we are
thankful for. We at Capital City Mission would like
to take the opportunity to do the same.
• We are thankful for the love of God.
• We are thankful Alexandra, Gabe, Alexander and
Zoe. These four children were so excited about helping make sandwiches at Capital City
Mission that they had a bake sale, raising $70 for CCM. What a blessing.
• We are thankful to two faithful women from Eglise Liberte Oasis des Nations along with a
group from Woodvale who weekly provide sandwiches for the Drop-In.
• We are thankful for the volunteers who are committed to being part of our community.
• We are thankful for the church groups that are considering meeting with us at the Drop-In
on Thursday evenings. We take joy in thinking of the blessing that the Capital City Mission
community will be in their lives.
• We are thankful for those who daily hold us up in prayer, knowing this sustains us.
• As we look towards winter we consider additional staffing needs and operational costs, and we
are thankful for those who give generously and consistently.
• We are thankful for the life of George Muller who acts as a reminder to be faithful to our God
who continually provides for the needs of the Mission (please, find a book or google his name
to learn of his inspirational life of faith).
• And finally, we are profoundly thankful to be part of the Lowertown community.
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