footprints in the snow.

we all had a story of how we got there. every story a bit different. but oh how i loved listening to glimpses of those stories. as words flowed out. in between bites of spaghetti and sips of hot cocoa. as we sat around the table. where there was a place for everyone.

and those couple of hours passed quickly. and soon it was midnight. quiet time. quiet except for that musical snoring in the corner. and the wind howling outside. and the guests who showed up a bit later than the rest.

and folks stretched out on their cots. and covered up with blankets. and rested until morning. that is until the pancakes inspired the smoke alarm to sound. and after breakfast, everything was straightened up. and put back in its place. daylight was coming. and it was time to venture out in the cold again.

there's no current permanent shelter in nome for people to escape the frigid temperatures and biting winds. but a team of folks is striving to put something in place. at least for the last bit of these winter months. so that all people will have access to a warm, dry, safe space to sleep. we opened a temporary emergency shelter up two nights last week in the nazarene church down the street. and generally, there was much thanks expressed. i was able to volunteer the first night. some of most meaningful moments i've been a part of here.

and its not perfect. so many details to still work out. and the small base of core volunteers is exhausted. and burning out. and honestly, the shelter should be open every night during the winter in nome. but they say we don't have the human resources to maintain it every night.
they say folks are used to surviving in these conditions. but something in me says they shouldn't have to.

we're not giving up. just trying to reorganize. to do the best we can with what we've got at the moment. and expand what we've got to give. and look towards sustainable efforts. towards long term solutions that deal with the underlying causes. striving towards empowerment. and justice. and honour. and dignity. things just take time.

and the story doesn't end here. and maybe stories don't end. maybe they always flow on.

we all had a story of how we got there. and our stories continue. as our journeys continue. as we leave our footprints in the snow. and i offer thanks for those moments. even so brief. when our footprints merge as one.