News & Views

Good Morning. Yes, it is still morning. Not something I see often these days. I got this invite and am overjoyed that WHUC has started this site. Being that there were no topics started yet, I thought I would start one. My story of how I found WHUC is actually a very profound one. It was way back in mid '90's. I had just split from my now ex-husband and found myself in a Bachelor in Housing at Kingston Rd and Lawrence Ave. Unfortunately, the divorce didn't favour me much and I ended up on Social Assistance to boot. Emotionally distraught, severely depressed I was unable to work. I tried to learn to live again. I was alone, in every way imaginable. I was mourning the loss of my Step Daughter whom I was not allowed to see. The "family" I was once apart of had disowned me. I was lost, in every way a person can be lost. Unfortunately for myself, I had grown up in a family that was unable to feel. Whenever feelings became to strong, they ran from them in any form of "using" they could. I learned this way of dealing with pain very young and by the time this divorce took place I could not feel at all. It was too difficult and far too painful. I drank myself into oblivion most days and used any drug that would help me escape from reality. I was dying. I didn't even care.
As many probably don't remember, the Welfare Office was at that time in the plaza at Manse Rd and Kingston Rd. I had to walk up there any time I had dealings with them. I had always believed in God, but was not raised with any form of religion or spirituality in my home. I would pass WHUC often.
It was on a particularly difficult day when I had been to the Welfare office and was walking home. I remember walking with my head down. Feeling worthless and alone. Something (and when I say "something", I mean something or someone) made me look up.
There, on the sign in front of me were six words. Six words that changed my life. Six words that jumped out at me like a huge neon sign on an abandoned back-road!...
"A WARM PLACE TO FIND YOURSELF"
Those words still bring a chill and a sense of peace to me to this day. If ever in my life I needed to find myself, it was then. It wasn't just a small sign on the front of a Church lawn. It was a SIGN! A SIGN FROM GOD!
Incidently, I went to WHUC that next Sunday at 10am. I've watched our old Minister, Bruce Sanguin, with his guitar and the children. He moved on years ago. I made friends there who I don't always see, but still "feel" in my heart. I was finally Baptised there a few years later. I got to know Peggy and found her to be such a beautiful person.
And it was Peggy who introduced me to the program which saved my life even more! As some know, WHUC allows a 12 Step Program known as Narcotics Anonymous to meet on Sunday evenings at 8pm in the big room downstairs. She told me about it and I began to take part. It saved my life from the using of drugs and alcohol that I had been drowning in. It was another "home" I had found. It was Gods Will.
I have seen Bruce come and go. I have watched Gretta from the beginning. Her personality and flair take off like a Butterfly at first flight. She fills me when she speaks. She touches deep in my soul and brings out things I never knew I was able to feel. I cry and I laugh with all the people of WHUC. I "feel" again, finally. Even if it hurts to feel, I can feel again. I know I am no longer alone. God is with me always and forever.
It is WHUC I have to thank for this. It is God in his infinite wisdom who brought me to WHUC because he knew I needed it.
I sometimes walk up to the labyrinth and just walk it. It is heaven there.
Thank you WHUC. You saved me. I may not be there every Sunday bright eyed and bushy tailed at 10 - 10:30am all the time, but you left footprints on my heart. They will never go away. You are home, you are life. To me you are Love.
In Christ's name, I Thank you. In peace.
Amen.

Laurie Cassar
Saturday June 5th at 9:58am