Addressing the Big Issue

The capacity for kindness, empathy and charity is something that all people should possess and can be viewed and experienced on a daily basis.

Sydney’s Central Station is not renowned for its kindness, empathy or charity. It is a chaotic symphony of noise and colour, an ethnic melting pot, a hive of activity, where individuals from different demographics converge on their way to somewhere, from somewhere or to meet someone. It is not for everyone; noisy, smelly, ill-equipped. If you get caught in the rush-hour stampede the throng can whisk you away to places you have never been, and may never want to return. Stylishly clad businessmen brush shoulders with unwashed foreign backpackers, giggly students and elderly women brandishing small shopping carts like weapons.

Just outside Central Station is an expanse of concrete reserved for three distinct groups; city commuters, the homeless and street vendors peddling ‘genuine’ Armani sunglasses for the price of a pub meal. My friend Glenn belongs to none of these groups. Monday through Friday he stands, absorbing the atmosphere, conversing with passers by and proudly plugging the latest edition of the Big Issue.

The global financial crisis of 2008 affected people worldwide – few were immune to its wrath. Glenn was adversely affected, losing his job as a car salesman and plunging his life into a temporary state of disarray. Some would have ‘thrown in the towel’ but Glenn was not to be stopped by the loss of a job. He still had drive and something to offer. The opportunity to sell copies of the Big Issue was a way for him to maintain his dignity, put food on the table, a roof over his head and allowed him to do what he loves best – talking to people.

Glenn has plenty to say. Anyone who is privy to his sales pitch will attest to his voluminous lungs which he uses to good effect. In another age he would have made a fine town crier. He has a wealth of trivia knowledge and would make a useful companion at my local pub quiz. He also has the opportunity to chew the fat with people from all walks of life and never shirks a conversation. While not at all extroverted he is comfortable in discussion and is always interested in the coming day’s events.

The Big Issue is not a hand out; a distinction that Glenn feels is important. Sellers purchase the magazines for $2.50 and then sell them on for $5.00. The profit is theirs, effectively they are the entrepreneurs of the street. The Big Issue is available throughout Australia and sellers congregate on most street corners in the bigger urban centres, always ready to offload a magazine to the astute buyer.

This morning, as I strode up the gangway from the underground platform to the outside world, I spied Glenn and paused to take a fiver out of my wallet. When I looked up I saw an amazing sight. Glenn, a man living on life’s knife edge was drawing his wallet out of his pocket and removing a fiver of his own. This fiver was for another homeless man who had approached Glenn. The symbolism of this gesture was not lost on me. Even though Glenn has very little money of his own, he had the compassion and charity to share his money with someone in a less fortunate position than himself. That he could sacrifice the proceeds of his work should inspire us all to reach into our pockets and do our bit for our fellow man.

The French playwright Moliere said, “Every good act is charity. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.” I wish you well with your good act; today, tomorrow or when you have the opportunity.