The very excellent and creative Jocelyn (The Reading Residence) and Iona (Redpeffer) have come up with a new linky game; The Theme Game and this weeks theme is Doorway.
Now, my initial thoughts of course fell to doorways to opportunities; doorways to new homes and the future; doorways as a metaphor for change and transition.
Then, I watched a video that a friend had shared on Facebook.
It was a promotional film, for an online copywriting firm as it happens, shared under the heading The Power of Words.
It’s designed to pull on the heart strings, showing the difference that choice of words can make to how others relate to you and your circumstances. And it is, in fact, very clever.
The important thing for this post though, is that it featured a homeless man.
I was then having a google for a quote that might provide some inspiration for this post.
This is what I found:
The most sacred thing is to be able to shut your own door.
G.K. Chesterton
And, that really made me stop.
Yes, doorways can be a metaphor for many things, but some people would give anything to just have a doorway to walk through.
Anyone who has been watching the news (or simply opening their own front door) knows that the weather has been awful, on both sides of the Atlantic. Flooding and damage in the UK. Snow and dangerously cold temperatures in the US. We all complain, it’s a particularly British thing to complain about the weather. But, really we should all be thankful that we can return somewhere at the end of our day, close the door on the weather and be safe and warm.
I’ve supported Shelter for years, but I haven’t yet replaced those donations with anything similar here in the US.
I’m off to see what charity I should be supporting here.
And, I’m reminding myself how lucky I am to have a doorway of my own.
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Very true. Real poverty is so utterly shocking, and in this day and age should not be happening! Especially in the supposed first world…
It really is, it’s always been something I feel very strongly about; it shouldn’t be so prevalent. And, at this time of year it scares and saddens me to think of so many people without a roof over their heads.
You’re right, I was thinking about those with no home in bad weather-where do they go? We are very lucky to have a door to close and keep us warm and safe. Thank you for sharing with us at #TheThemeGame
I hate to think where many end up. I do feel lucky and try not to take it for granted.
Sadly, so true. Thank you for making us stop and think about that. And thanks for joining in with #TheThemeGame x
It really wasn’t the post I intended to write! But, I’m glad I did.
You are so right, this time of year always makes my heart pull for those people without homes. I remember in Knightsbridge that at night they used to throw water in the doorways at night. The water would turn to ice, so wet or icy the homeless would have to go elsewhere to curl up to find respite. Love the idea of this linky, hope it goes super-well! I’d love to join in x
That makes me want to cry, that people can be so heartless and oblivious to hardship.
This is our first week back in Barcelona, and at first it was shocking (again) that these flats are rented out without heating. But we manage to get creative, our baby has a nice sleeping sack and tonight I am going to sleep in my day clothes with an extra layer. It will be fine and you are right, I hope I will not have bigger worries ever like those who are out in the cold. In real cold.
xoxo, Eszter
http://kukolina.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/meeting-up-with-fellow-bloggers-and-babies/
Oh, gosh, no heating at this time of year :( I hope you’re okay. Stay warm xx
Layering and lots of loving is the key to it. HAHA
Lol :)
How lovely that a blogging game has been so inspirational to you! I hope you find an equally worthy charity on the other side of the pond!
#thethemegame
As I said in another comment, it really wasn’t the post I was expecting to write, but it’s what it turned into x
Very true, we never really think about how lucky we are. We had floods in the centre of town on Christmas Eve and a friends ground floor flat got wrecked, so now they can’t live there for the time being and they lost things that are irreplaceable :( #thethemegame
I can’t imagine being without a home or my possessions. Just awful. Yet, so many people are in that very situation.
I know I take my home for granted in the context of this blog. However, I also know that all this can change in the blink of an eye. A very thoughtful post, thanks.
Thank you x
I hadn’t seen that quote before. It’s very true and especially chord-striking; thanks for sharing #thethemegame
It is isn’t it? As soon as I saw it I knew what direction this post was going to take xx