"Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it." Genesis 1:26 (King James Bible version)
“Employment program helps Yellowknife’s homeless turn their lives around.”
So read the headline written and posted by a Gabriela Panza-Beltrandi on CBC News, January 01, 2019.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/employment-program-yellowknife-homeless-1.4960957
Consequently,
'"This job] gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day," says Lee Abel, one of Yellowknife’s homeless men.
A number of years ago while a Board member on the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF), I had advised the Board that the key to “healing” Residential School Survivors and Aboriginal people in general was to meet their need for a sense of significance. Apparently, that seemed too simple even to the then Chair of the AHF and non-Survivor, George Erasmus. My argument, in the end, was it’s all about how one “feels.” It’s evident Lee Abel is “feeling it.”
"[This job] gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day,"
It is evident too that since the time of Genesis, man has not changed. The challenge today though is for one to find their Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
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| photo by Gabriela Panza-Beltrandi |
Although homeless, seems Lee Abel has found his Garden. How does that make him feel?
“…he likes his job because it keeps him busy and "out of trouble."
Before working with Common Ground, Abel kept himself occupied drinking to pass time, he said.
Since June, Abel has been working with Common Ground — a local initiative that employs the city's homeless. In a little over half a year, he's started to turn his life around. With his paycheques he's been able to buy new clothes and a cellphone to keep in touch with his employer.
I know for certain, the AHF spent over $400 million dollars trying to heal Aboriginal people. I know for certain too, as one who engages with the ever-increasing Aboriginal inmates in one of Canada’s penitentiaries, seems that money was wasted.
Abel said he likes his job because it keeps him busy and "out of trouble." Before working with Common Ground, Abel kept himself occupied drinking to pass time, he said.
"This keeps me out of that rut."
For Lee Abel, all he had to do was find his Garden of Eden and feel like a somebody; …he just changed his attitude and it cost nothing.
Evidently, he wants to tend and keep it too. High five, Brother!!
