The Nourished Roots

 

The Root YOU Feed.... As I am passionate about scripture, I am also about quotes. When I find one that speaks volumes, I rejoice as it is an extension of myself conveying what is imparted from my heart to yours…

By now, if you as the reader have been following along, I have suffered, yet I am alive, I have sought injustice, yet at the price of my health! I extended forgiveness to my former landlords, as I have within my own family. Most importantly, I have become a better person because of the things I have loathed the most!! So today was a learning lesson about what roots we feed the most.

Today, I awoke early at an undisclosed area where I “sleep” in my car. The daily and nightly procedures I go through to snuggle into a car that has the size enough to accommodate a fold up size buggy. I have spent many other blogs feeding the root of poverty. This is not another one of those posts as I had an elder lady tell me she felt guilty sipping on her creamy Strawberry chill, while reading my words.

This about what you can do when you do have nothing! Or think you do not…

I picked up my mail to discover a lovely card that had 2 Tim Horton’s gift cards. My friends are fan of the Oilers and have gone beyond the manner of ‘serving’ to assist their Sister in Christ. I am then able to sit in Various Tim Hortons and type away to make use of my time. Plus, I would come to see how key these two cards have been in helping others.

I happened into a Tim Hortons wearing my mask and met a lovely young lady named Lauren, who worked in the Royal Oak area. After some chit-chat, I discovered she was on her break, and liked Everything bagels with plain cream cheese. I whipped out a card and bought her lunch. I offered to toss in a drink, but she politely declined. I had also spoke with her about my novel…the one that is currently being held hostage in an attic of buried technology…desperate to escape. I gave her my card and away I went. For the cost of a bagel, I was able to break the dreaded boomerang of the pandemic and reach out in kindness…without touching anyone or encroaching on their space.

Later, I needed a bathroom and went to a Park, as I also had to re-organize my belongings for the night.

A group of people were getting into two vehicles, parked next to me. The women were dressed in Sari’s and one had a platter with a cake. I approached (again wearing my mask) and asked what the celebration was? They said it was their father’s birthday.

I smiled through my mask and said, “You have a lovely family to celebrate with!”

This caught them off-guard and the woman remarked with smiles, “Thank you for your Kindness!”

Another trip to a local Timmies saw a Manager speak of his young wife , who earlier in their marriage battled a serious disease. This rendered her unable to have children and this man was broken just relaying their heartache. I asked for her name and assured him I would be praying for them both. His reaction was to almost burst in tears! Once again, the powerful root of kindness was being nourished.

Later, back at the park, I saw  gathering of people in chairs. I could see physical distancing and bags of goodies were bring handed out. I requested some one in charge to come over and speak with me. There was a great deal of hesitation and finally a woman who was the host walked over. I asked if they were celebrating an event and she said yes! I then commended her on the spacing between them and wished them a safe event- one without COVID-19 happening! She thanked me profusely when all I was doing was wishing those gathered safety and joy!

I later had a wonderful conversation with a vibrant and skilled hairdresser named April. Later I met her sweet little girl Aura and her beautiful energy made me smile.

It was a day where I chose to feed the roots of JOY and Kindness.

After they left, The Tim Horton’s was besieged with the violent outbreak of a man having a mental health issue. While everyone sat safely inside, I attended and went to speak with the man.

I asked him simple questions: “Had he eaten?” “Was he Dehydrated?”

He calmed down when I asked him what he wanted?

All he could muster was a request for a Boston Cream donut and an apple juice.

I went inside and came back with his order.

He asked for some change and I shared I am homeless too. This quieted him down.

I reached out in empathy, as I know what it is like to be looked at, as if you are a monster.

in my most dire times, it came down to what I needed...respect, love, hug or understanding. 

The past six months, what the basics are became distorted...

In this painful but enlightening process, the reasoning for my quest for righteousness in this world, has come at a price. I traded my health and wellness to prove the wrongs done to me.

I have experienced two strokes, a bled on my brain and recently, I had an ultrasound on my heart.

To add to my ailments, I recently learned, I have a hole in my heart. To me this comes as no surprise.

On December 12, 2011, my heart was fractured by the death of my daughter. I endured the death of my 10-year relationship, the drugging, kidnapping, and assault when I first moved to the Island and two bouts of homelessness. There is more, yet even as I write this, I can easily see which root is being fed.

I should point out these are things done to me...what about the poor choices I've made?? 

If any clearer a message can be rendered beyond stress Kills…it is that I am allowing the bitter roots of anger, resentment, and suffering to be fed!

Since I am a homeless person, living and sleeping in my vehicle, does not mean I do not have choices to make. I have deleted my Facebook, refocused on my self-worth, gathered strength in numbers of those who love, support, and believe in me, created a list of reviews I have garnered as a clean and quiet tenant.  

Therefore, I have walked away from my addiction to poverty, cut ties from the enemy and am seeking to rebuild myself….peace by Peace.

 

By Tonya L. Alton

EGR ~ Extra Grace Required

 Grace is often defined as “unmerited favor.” Yet grace involves so much more. It empowers us to do the will of the Spirit, to forgive when it’s hard, to do what would be impossible on our own- from walking in wisdom to building relationships to loving the unlovely. ~ Mark DuPrè

9 weeks. This is the short span of time that took me from the shelter of my home, to being served a 10-day Eviction Notice, in the midst of a pandemic.

As I type this, I am only one sleep away from packing up the last remnants of my life and driving into the unknown.

My story, could be your tale of woe. Intermingled within are glimmers of hope, a sharing of forgiveness and the harsh truth. That despite Premier John Horgan’s relief of a ban on evictions, and his reassurance: “We’re helping renters pay rent and giving them the peace of mind that they have in a stable home in these unprecedented times.” The Premier, left an open-ended statement asking landlords to be understanding and communicate with tenants.

To explain my own personal story, is to share the last of several email communications. Where upon I made every effort, to communicate what led to me typing this in a bare space, I once occupied as home. The following is an open letter to my landlords. Out of privacy and respect, I have not included their names, nor my former address.

To My Landlords,

It was only 9 weeks ago; we signed a 12-month lease. Our interaction was positive, and I was thankful for an early move in date, plus a reduced security deposit of $375.

I had an interview with a job connected to Tourism and my future looked bright. In moving my belongings in, I mentioned I was packing my late daughter’s things.

As I set-up in your suite, upon visiting, you mentioned how nice it smelled. This was a compliment as every place I venture, I like to impart my care.

Soon I was given a wonderful job offer in Tourism, however the late start date was a concern, as I knew it would be weeks before I had a cheque. This would make my rent late and I shared with you that I was now seeking other job opportunities. With March 1^st approaching, I contacted you and requested to speak in person. Upon your arrival, I gave you proof of my small income tax refund, a two-page list of jobs I had applied for and my empty fridge, as I had run out of my savings. As hard as it was to admit, I divulged that I would be needing to access the food bank. I shared how I have helped those in need for many years, therefore I would have to humble myself to receive a food voucher. Your exact words to me were: “Let me go home, discuss it with the wife and I will get back to you.” I emailed you, right after you left to say how grateful I was. Later that night, I received confirmation that I was given 3 weeks grace to come up with March rent. I did not receive an eviction. Again, I was thankful and expressed it. I held off going to the food bank for over a week, as I didn’t feel worthy to receive further help. 

Meanwhile, I applied for more work. I also had four job interviews. This was going on into the 2^nd week of March. After my last job interview, I contacted you again via email, to say I had another interview but no offer. Following my message, you sent me by email, an Eviction notice to be out by March 31^st. I was shocked and given the stress of trying to secure employment, all I could do was to respond, “Thank you and I understand. I did add that you could keep my damage deposit, since I felt terrible over all that had transpired.”

It was soon after, I contacted the Residential Tenancy Act. I discovered several things: a proper eviction notice needs to be served in person/or registered mail and not email. Also a landlord cannot keep a security deposit towards rent. After notifying you again, you both showed up to serve me in person, with a 10 -day Eviction notice. I called the RTB and received two varied samples of the rules. There was confusion about what was going to happen, due to the COVID-19 virus. I was told that an Eviction notice cannot be backdated and that I was okay to stay until the end of April. Additionally, I was told by the RTB agent to be on alert for an announcement was going to be made, concerning evictions. Despite everything, you made it clear that I was to be out on March 31^st, 2020. 

I explained that if I was forced out, I would be homeless and thrust into a world, where a pandemic is happening. You shared that is was nothing ‘personal’. Also, you mentioned that you are exempt from evicting me because it was prior to the virus. Meanwhile, there has been proof this virus was well known long before, you serving me on March 21^st, 2020. You also told me you had showings for the suite, and I would need to vacate for 3 hours. Again, I discovered that I did not have to agree to this, since I believed I was allowed to stay until April 30^th. Furthermore, a tenant does have the right to stay, if any viewings are held. Lastly, I did not want strangers coming in and out of the suite I was still in, during the time of an outbreak. I made a request to have my security deposit, which you ignored and refused to say you would be returning. Had you waited only 2 days later; you would have received the news that I was hired FULL-time by a large North American company. There would have been an upcoming payment of March and April’s rent, once I started receiving my pay. This is what you have cost me during this time of upheaval. I have had to pay for and secure storage (again in the midst of the coronavirus). My sleep has been deprived, due to my late nights of packing. The gas costs for travelling to and from my storage. Plus, the reality that you are forcing me out into a world, when we are all to be self-isolating. Due to not having any funds to move elsewhere, just yet, I have to try and sleep in my car, after I have worked all day, (as you know, my vehicle is a mini- car)! The seriousness of the situation is if due to my dire circumstances, I caught the corona virus, there is a possibility, I could become fatally ill. 

My previous email asked you if you are sure I am evicted, and your response again was for me to vacate on March 31.

I ask you this…just how much is my life worth? The day you served me, I did not feel you saw me as a human being, rather as dollar signs that were not being paid.

The stress of moving in and out in only 9 weeks has taken quite a toll on me. I have lost out on wages due to me having to pack and move. Due to lack of funds, there was also no moving company and therefore, I have used my small car to make countless trips to the storage.

Regardless of me being evicted and exhausted, I managed to still clean the bathroom, oven and fridge, in my suite. 
Throughout the years, in other places I have stayed at, I have amassed a wonderful collection of Thank you cards from people, whose places I’ve stayed at. I also provided you with references from those, I have rented from.  

I even tried placing myself in your shoes and expressed how difficult it must be for yourselves, during these times of uncertainty.

The truth is that in all of the things you have removed from me, there is something that you cannot put a price on. Instead of holding onto bitterness towards you or the situation, every box I packed up, I prayed for you both. Whether it was for you to realize the gravity of the situation, or for your health/ wellness or even that your jobs remain sustainable…I prayed.

As people in a world filled with chaos and crisis, I wanted to leave this suite of 9 weeks and be full of gratitude for my time here. 
In every act of service, there is true grace only found, in forsaking things we think that are ours… for another.

I want you to know how equally important it is for me to share this letter with others, who maybe on either side of the fence. My wish is that a landlord somewhere reads this and realizes what is at stake. That when they come to the door to serve an eviction order, they find a message of strength- not fear on the other side... 

~ Andra Day 

By TL Alton