WHEN IT'S THE LAST ONE TO GIVE THE PACE! (1)

3 years, 8 months ago

When you arrive at the hut from the street, it is easy to hope, at least for a while, that you will remain invisible to the eyes of everyone, while the deep desire of the soul is to be recognized, respected and loved.

Many of these Friends, accustomed to having little, seem to apologize for being there as for existing! We want - like everyone else - even if we deny it to ourselves, to feel loved and to discover that we are lovable.

The poor go slowly and are not in a hurry. They usually know how to wait for someone who wants to stop and walk with them.

But it is easy to get lost in the things to do or to give, and then lose what really counts: a profound encounter with them; to waste the sacred gift of a presence, the wisdom in gestures and silences, the noble poetry in the stories of life, the pain in the candour of the eyes or in veiled smiles.

The pace of the poor is slow. It does not have too many pretensions. They don't have much to defend. The poor go slowly and if we are in a hurry they let us go ...

WHEN IT'S THE LAST ONE TO SET THE PACE! (2)

3 years, 8 months ago

... the poor go slowly to understand how much we really want to walk and stay with them!

I think of S.M. who has been tying his life to a wheelchair for years and refusing to stay in our country, and of that creeping temptation to go it alone and leave him where he is ... "Don't worry, we'll do it ourselves!". This is the temptation that disguises itself as charity, while starting from small things we run the risk of creating injustice, perhaps assistance and not sharing and dignity!

S. expects only to be involved, to be in our midst, no matter what we do, whether potatoes are blooming or coffee capsules are opening, but to remain in our midst and be recognised for what he is ... and without even knowing it, to show us what he is. and without even knowing it, show us the best way to face our daily life together!

May it always be them, our most disadvantaged Brothers, who mark our pace, and may the pace of all be that of the last among them.

The poor go slowly and it is there that he understands if we want to be with him ... and the slower we slow down to keep up with him, the more he'll teach us to take flight... to fly.

What's the Hut? A square with a roof over it!

3 years, 8 months ago

In the last 3 years more than 200 friends who are used to the hardness of the road and life have passed through the house. The Hut is often a stop on their way and here they find the warmth of a real home and the care of a family. I have in mind many faces sculpted by the cold and fatigue, the uncertain steps of those who have no security, the precious words at the table and the silences of those who do not want to share a pain for fear of being hurt! The Hut is a simple place where the hosts are themselves: here they make themselves, for all of us, unaware teachers of life. I think of P. in his thick white beard and striped pullover who recites verses in prose, and when he is not serene he restores furniture in religious silence! I think of E. who for fear of getting too attached often plays the gruff and goes away, only to come back apologizing to everyone and to himself! I think of A. who, when he was just a few years old - and he's still a little boy - found his father's knife in his back and, despite everything, he always tries to smile.

Thank you very much for your generosity

3 years, 9 months ago

With the donations that have arrived so far we have been able to replace the old dishwasher, the refrigerator, the oven, we have painted all the walls and bought gardening tools that have allowed us to build a beautiful vegetable garden and a chicken coop. Those who live in the Hut feel that they are on sacred ground, on which God walks and faithfully keeps pace with the poor... and taking care of the land and the fruits that the Lord gives us is a wonderful thing for the dignity of man.
Thank you for what you have done, we hope to find you again at our side to be able to reach together the goal to finish the work in the Hut.