The holiday season is a time of year that often sneaks up on me. Past year-ends have come and gone much faster than this one, possibly because of this year’s early snow. I like seeing snow on the ground, though I don’t much like slipping on it, and all the little signs that Christmas and New Year’s are approaching make me feel happy for many reasons.

It is such a good feeling to drive down Whyte Avenue and see the lights and the Christmas shoppers and the myriad of people out to celebrate each other’s company over some form of strong drink. When I was younger, I would have been right in there with them, but now I am happy to go down there with my dad and watch a movie at the Princess Theatre, grab a hot coffee at Tim Hortons, and visit the Wee Book Inn.

In McCauley, there are the lit-up trees in Caboto Park and the general feeling of thankfulness that seems to reach everyone in the neighbourhood. Some holiday seasons, if I can, I like to make it to Toronto to see my sister and niece, and sometimes they come here. Places and circumstances don’t matter as long as no one is alone for Christmas.

Many people don’t realize it, but Christmas can be a time of problems for many – mentally, physically, and spiritually. Sadly, people often suffer from depression, sometimes caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder, where our low sunlight hours actually make people medically in need of special help. There are others who go into a depression because they grew up in families that held together fast during the holidays, and now they face what should be the happiest time of year alone. I was reminded this Thanksgiving about how much I have to be thankful for when my brother was unable, due to a medical problem, to cook one of his incredible dinners for us, and instead I was invited to the house of a very kind and giving family in McCauley to celebrate.

What I have wanted to somehow focus on this year, though, was something that has been growing worse in our community since the price of oil dropped off and we started having troubles with our economy. There are a lot of homeless people who are going to have a very tough time getting through the winter. Local agencies such as Bissell Centre, Hope Mission, and many others are going to need extra volunteers, donations of items, and donations of funds to help with the extra load.

Most prominent in my mind, however, are a couple of men whom I am sure many have seen around our area. These two people have been around McCauley and the downtown area for a number of years and I know their story because it is very similar to my own. One of them I often see near Kingsway with a sign asking motorists to help him, and I have ridden buses with him, as well as seen him often on the streets. He looks dirty and ragged, and I know he has a mental health issue. It saddens me because I also have a mental health issue. The only difference is that I found a doctor and a type of medication that helps me. My heart goes out to this guy and to the other man, who is also chronically homeless and mentally ill.

I don’t know what could ever save these guys from the terrible times they go through, but they will be foremost in my prayers this Christmas Mass when I come to offer up my sins and ask forgiveness from my Creator. These people are a part of our community. They are human beings and I can’t help but feel that somehow I have failed them. To me, that is what the holiday season really is for: re-evaluating our relationship with our community and seeing how we can not only love each other more, but perhaps do a little better and give a little more each year. Just a little effort will mean a great deal.

Leif lives in McCauley.