The Cost is too High not to Love - Adaline

On Tuesday Feb 23rd, CJSF had our Homelessness Marathon broadcast segment. The guests included; Montana King a local artist, as well as musicians Rick, Star and Derek all from the Olympic tent village on East Hastings. The conversations were intimate, engaging and entertaining. Rick, a true performer sang his heart out; you could feel the love for his new-found musical friends. Star who is 17 and who had been homeless for four years, struck me as someone who has already gone through the life experience of a 40-year old, she was mature, articulate and reflective. Derek, from Montreal filled the room with his rock star voice.

Montana, someone who I knew peripherally, blew me away with her words; she was captivating in describing her life experience. She had talked about the concept of the two worlds and how people should be left to live their lives, but respect and dignity is something everyone should have. One of the most memorable lines from her was “If you don’t ever fall in love with a flower, as an artist you will never ever learn to paint, love really doesn’t cost a thing”. The parallels to the human experience is stark, really if we can’t find a way to love and value other’s lives how can we live our own with any sense of value.

Adaline, who was a musical co-host and inspired by the event, captured this in a song she wrote only hours before our broadcast, “The Cost is too High not to Love”

The real cost of homelessness is peoples lives. A home is a safe psychological place as well as a physical one and everybody has a right to both. In essence it’s as much about compassion as it is about construction.

jp

If you wish to understand more and take action on homelessness in this county, go to redtents.org for ideas.