Bringing God's grace and healing love
to people with life-disrupting problems

Wild Goose Chase?
by Judith Sheather

Walking past the window displays of shops in Broadmead had an air of unreality for Keith and me one October night. The goods and fashions belonged to the world of plenty; the clients of the Wild Goose to the world of rock bottom. The Wild Goose café in City Road, St Paul's is base for the work of the Crisis Centre. We were privileged to be making a video to promote their activities. That night we had joined Alan and Kate in their outreach on the streets.

No longer did we feel uncomfortable and try to avoid eye contact with the unfortunates for whom life is literally on the streets. They, not the 'ordinary' people, were the ones we wanted to meet. Engaging them in conversation was easy for Alan. He had once been in their position himself. A successful business man, he had found drinking socially a way to survive the strain... until things started to slip out of control. He lost his job, he had to leave the family home, he had nowhere to go. Thanks to the helping hand and Christian faith of the Crisis Centre he is back with his family and doing well in work. Many of the street people were known by name to Alan and Kate. Some of them had been to rehabilitation, some were going to 'rehab', for some it was a dream. All of them were offered a meal voucher for a hot meal at the Wild Goose. To avoid misuse financial help is never given but a can of dog food was promised, bought in the Tesco Metro and handed over to the owner later in the evening.

The clients of the Wild Goose are often highly articulate about their situation. We are now into the second generation of broken families and there is even less family support for those who find it difficult to cope. Stressful jobs and peer pressure can also lead to dependency on drugs and alcohol to help relieve the strain. Once down, there is a real need for a change of heart and patient support for the slow and often painful steps back to the 'ordinary' world. That is where the Wild Goose comes in. Those in the café can relate to the clients and, as well as feeding them, help them find housing, or training, or 'rehab', or, best of all, the love of God. The wild goose was the Celtic symbol for the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is present there in the Crisis Centre ministry through the Wild Goose.

When we returned from our trawl of the streets we found some of those we had seen down in the Bear Pit or Centre tucking in to a warming stew, thanks to their meal vouchers. Stencilled on the newly painted walls are 'Revive', 'Refresh', 'Renew'. May this be our prayer this Christmas for the Wild Goose. Support can be given financially through our Church Christmas card at the back of church, by buying meal vouchers from A Thomas 968 5195.

Wild Goose Chase? by Judith Sheather

Wild Goose Chase?
by Judith Sheather