Generosity Counteracting Adversity

She's affectionately called 'The Soup Lady'. Now well into her eighties, she can be seen in the central district of Canberra, every Friday night, giving free soup and blankets, not only to the homeless, but to anyone in need. She sees Canberra's student population as a somewhat disadvantaged group, and so they too share in her offerings.

To understand more about Stasia, one must first look back many years to when she was much younger. She fled Poland during the occupation in World War Two, losing everything, and arriving in Australia with her husband and two young sons. When her marriage failed, she was left to care for and rear, her two sons. Although a qualified nurse and nursing sister, her qualifications were not recognized in Australia and so, she was only able to gain work as a cleaner.

Many years back, in the seventies, when Stasia's sons were teenagers, a young friend approached her with a view to asking her to help him set up a soup kitchen for the homeless. As one of her sons had been addicted to heroin, and she had been witness to the plight of the addicted, she agreed to do so, using some of the proceeds of her cleaning job to fund the project and using her kitchen for the soup-making. Nothing was donated, and yet for nine years, many were fed on the kindness and generosity of this amazing lady.

The young friend eventually married and left Canberra, but Stasia continued her mission alone, serving hundreds of people every Friday night, in Canberra. Canberra's winters can be cold and daunting, but this did not deter Stasia. It was as if she had a contract to be there, winter chills or no winter chills, and she honoured that contract!

As time went by, word got out about Stasia and her work. In time local groups and clubs banded together to help her and contribute. A van was provided for her and local businesses helped with the produce, equipment, and other forms of assistance.

Rightfully, in 1996, Stasia was given the award of Citizen of the Year. In her eyes though, she is no hero, and when asked how long she would continue her work, she intimated that it would be until she died. In my mind I think that Stasia will have many years left to serve others.

Is it not strange that those who give, always manage to continue to give? They pay their bills, they give again and again to others, and yet, there is always some left over at the end of the day. Moreover, sunny and positive by nature, they tend to stay healthy and much fitter than others of their vintage.

So what can we learn from this wonderful lady? The message is clear, the picture even clearer. Stasia has an intuitive understanding and commitment to, the sanctity of life. Care and compassion are her yardsticks for living in a world where many of us have forgotten to serve, a world where many of us turn our heads and pretend that suffering is not on our door step, a world where the disadvantaged often remain so.

If we are to make this planet that we all share a better place, we can and must learn much from people such as Stasia. To do so we must decide to be the compassionate in our dealings with others. We must be honest and ready to embrace our fellow human beings.

If we all took just one step along this journey, and tried to exemplify such qualities, what a wonderful world this would be!