Darkness: deep navy sky, punctuated with minute specks of starlight, not enough to light the path ahead. Picking my way along the lane, torch shining on my feet, I was grateful for torches of companions ahead. ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path’.
February 2, Candlemas, the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple: Anna and Simeon recognised the radiance of the Christ-child, ‘the light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel’, the promised Messiah. Candles are lit, shining in the darkness, ‘Jesus, Light of the World.’
From the beauty of the winter night and the splendour of the Christ-child in the temple, we’re in the basement in the Connection, 12.30, Sunday afternoon, raining, cold. Volunteers, as they do every Sunday, wait with a welcome. Guests, street homeless or vulnerably housed, come down the stairs, first stop the laundry. Assorted items of clothing and sleeping bags, are labelled, washed, dried in the industrial machines, and returned to the owners, usually within 2 hours. Two precious hours: shelter, warmth, shower, hot meal, company, space to be, nap, safety. The bellow of Father Richard’s Solomon Islands call signals the grace, the menu, arrangements for the afternoon. Volunteers move gently between guests, taking orders, providing table service, washers and driers churning, a strangely satisfying background music.
5 o’clock: guests departed, towels and bathrobes drying, servery and kitchen spotless thanks to 2 wonderful guests who faithfully serve every week, echoes of the afternoon’s conversations, thanks, smiles, snores, friendships, ubiquitous lost socks.
Doubt lingers: the faithfulness of volunteers is enormous, but is an afternoon enough, what more can be done? Just maybe, like the tiny speck of light from the stars or the comforting beam of the combined torches on the path or the lit candle, or the radiant Christ-child, it makes a difference, ‘The light shines in the darkness…’ a tiny light in the darkness of street homelessness and poverty.
St Martin’s long history of welcome, the ever-open door, incarnated in our Sunday International Group standing alongside the Connection and Charity and many other charities who serve London, the country and the world.
St David urges, ‘Do the little things’. Each hour, sock, grain of rice, smile, greeting, handshake, donation, brings a speck of light, comfort, dignity and dare we believe, hope.
Mel Adams
