Dear Inner Circle,

An appointment in Pitt St this week took a little longer than I expected, making me late for another meeting back at Wayside. As soon as I was out of the lift and headed for the nearest cab, I started to text the crew at Wayside to tell them I was on my way. I’d only taken a couple of steps on the footpath when I kicked what must have been a stick. I didn’t fall, but having lost my balance, I turned to see that I’d tripped on a white cane, held by a man wearing dark glasses! Thankfully the man didn’t stumble but he had stopped in his tracks. I don’t know if he was annoyed or frightened. My embarrassment level multiplied by a large factor and I offered my most profound apology.

Engaging in formal study is a daunting task for someone who can’t read or write. I spent some time yesterday with a fellow who grew up as a kid on the streets of Kings Cross. He was literally born on a park bench to an alcoholic mother. He lived a life that appeared to be destined for incarceration and early death. Yet I was looking into the face of a man fully alive. He’s been entirely free of alcohol for a while and he’s a fit, healthy looking man today. He’s been embarrassed by his complete lack of education and learned ways to dodge and dash to divert being noticed for his weakness. Yesterday we sat in my office and raised our glasses of water in a toast to his successful completion of a Certificate 3 at TAFE. What might look like a small step is a massive victory. There will be a graduation ceremony next year and I think the TAFE are inviting me to be a guest speaker on the occasion. What an achievement, what an honour! Thank God that Wayside never gives up and never writes anyone off as being too far gone.

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