NEARLY MIRACULOUS!

I'm a believer in the Rule of Unintended Consequences.  I learned that rule mostly from the negative perspective, when plans and intentions have back-fired and left me scratching my head about how a good idea could have such a bad result.

And then, every now and again, there are outcomes that strike me as truly miraculous and I am reminded that the Rule of Unintended Consequences also has a beneficial side.

About a year ago, the Board of Directors of the Owen Sound Hunger and Relief Effort (OSHaRE) committed to a plan that would eventually see the operation move from its inaugural home in the basement of the Harmony Centre, to its current location at 946 - 3rd Avenue East.  The plan resulted in the building of a custom designed space in which to receive, process, store, cook and serve large quantities of food.  The new location has a state of the art kitchen, paid for by the local chapter of Kiwanis; it has a walk-in freezer, a walk-in fridge and a lot of storage space.  In short it has everything OSHaRE needed to serve a hot supper meal five days a week and a take-out lunch on Saturday.

Now for the miraculous part.

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared on March 11, OSHaRE was deemed an essential service.  It quickly transitioned from its model of daily serving 80 to 100 hot suppers in a sit-down dinner setting, to a 100% take-out lunch and supper offering.  With the support of other community partners, corporate and individual donors, OSHaRE has transformed itself into a community hub that has prepared and provided an astounding 1652 take-out meals in the last seven days.

It seems that all the forethought and planning that went into the design of the new location has had the unintended consequence of providing the capacity to ramp up meal services needed during the pandemic.  No one ever planned for that eventuality and yet, here we are with a facility and program that is living into its mission: what we have, we will share.

Another miraculous element is the commitment and dedication of the people that make OSHaRE go: the staff of Colleen, Jeff and Diana are the heart of the operation.  And the dozens of volunteers and donors - they, are the soul.  Our community is the body.

We couldn't be better served if we had planned it this way.

Pat

SELF-MADE MAN?

For those of us who enjoy reading, it has been a good time to indulge in this previously guilty pleasure.  There's no significant constraint on how many hours I spend immersed in a good book, so I have doubled (at least) the amount of time I spend reading.

I just finished the third book of a trilogy by author Hilary Mantel; the title of the book is "The Mirror & the Light".  The chief character in the series is a real-life historical figure named Thomas Cromwell.  Cromwell's claim to fame is that he was the right-hand man of King Henry VIII...the king who could not find or keep love because of his desire for power.

My fascination with Thomas Cromwell is rooted in recognition that he was that most attractive of all people, a "self-made man."  Thomas was the son of a blacksmith,  a father whose gift to his son was such an abusive upbringing that Thomas ran away before he was a teenager.  Thomas did whatever he needed to do to stay alive - absolutely anything.  By the time he came to Henry VIII's notice, he was fluent in four languages and understood several more; he was a battle-tested soldier, a skilled orator, a shrewd negotiator, a lawyer, a mathematician, a theologian and above all else...he was a man who appreciated power.  In many respects he was a mirror image of King Henry, with the exception of being of low birth - a fact of which he was constantly reminded. 

Finishing the book earlier this week, I wondered if there is (or ever was) such a thing as a self-made person.  On reflection, I don't think so.  I am surrounded by evidence that my achievements, whether they be for the good or otherwise, are largely the result of good fortune and the gifts of others.  The long line of benefactors who have contributed to the making of "me" goes back to my ancestors and family, stretching forward through dozens of mentors, friends, patrons, teachers, sponsors and helpers.  And, I sense there are also non-human elements at play in making me who I am.

In present times, two of the phrases that I hear several times a day are: we are all in this together; and, we are not alone.  If these are true (as I understand them to be), how can there be such a thing as a self-made person?

It reminds me of a line from a Dr. Seuss book.  "I am you and you are me; put together, that makes we".

Pat

Take This Away

We read to know we are not alone.

~ C.S. Lewis ~

A Week of Gratitude

Saturday ~ lull in the storm

Sunday ~ beer cans & bottles in the ditch

Monday ~ fresh snow...again

Tuesday ~ accurate records

Wednesday ~ lunch & supper at OSHaRE

Thursday ~ getting the words & notes right...or not

Friday ~ relenting