I will be opening the doors to The Listening Post together one last time officially with Karen Thorpe who just turned 79yrs.

Monday June 9th is her last Monday. She has for 13+ years helped hold the space and through some long stretches of peace, growth and healing for many people. Karen is an unsung hero, she really is,

In 2018 as chairman of Bruce Eriksen Place I coordinated a 20th year anniversary of Bruce Eriksen Place. That is what brought me in and now going on over half a decade later the time is filled with some amazing experiences and so much more. The Listening Post is one our Non Profit Tenants / Neighbors.

Karen asked me to co-cordinator TLP with her, and I am very grateful that is was an option and I took it on and since then I have “been” there someway some how. As Margie Savigny said “John some how ended up woven in the fabric of TLP” on a retreat s few years ago. It was unexpected and out of the blue, I love the way we operate. Karen Thorpe, Margie and Kathi Bental have all shown me where I was at the good and the not so good, and they have helped me by hanging in there with me and seeing something in me that as opposite as we might be we are all coming to the same place for the right reasons.

We went through COVID, some break-ins, many friends of the space, and volunteers, and some one who was stone cold dead on our door step. It is the reality of Vancouver’s DTES. TLP has been in contiguous operations for 25 years there and I am honored to be a part of that stewardship, and the faith based heritage that is with and in it. Now TLP is under the loving wings of the Rivendell Foundation. Kathi Bental was for many years holding the space and is still is supporting it now from Bowen island with and via foundation and it’s members. See https://www.rivendellretreat.org/listening-post

A key note is the Victory Foundation has been for years administrating funding through an endowment from the former order The Sisters of Saint Anne  – Sister Lorraine being the first to open the doors 25 years ago and has always been held in loving hands.

Karen is not disappearing she is easing into a new home and a new chapter in her life and now more and more her grandchildren will be getting more of the best that she has and what a blessing.

for sure Karen will keep her key and I don’t doubt that at some point we might be opening up and locking up together again for this and that, on Monday it will be special as it is officially the last time that she will be manning / womaning 🙂 the post and again I am so thankful to be able to say this is in part my reality, and it is a pleasure to have helped shepherded and navigate the waters and the rhythm of what makes TLP just “work”, doing what we can on this corner in the poorest and most traumatized postal codes / populations in Canada and held the space and kept the sanctuary open.  We know it to be the creator who does these things and Karen chose to serve and she did so admirably and I salute her and hug her at that same time.

Again I have to say thank you and I love you Karen Thorpe, our LTP and Rivedell family as well. Life Saving and Changing work that we generally do not talk about it as such but it is true and Karen it is OK for some one to say that to you and about you, you are gracious and humble and so much appreciated in so many ways. As we say we @TLP we found each other, and what a noble and blessed thing we get to do and have done together.

So Karen See you on Monday my dear. I will upload pics and lets talk about the 25th year observance of all those with us, still with us and that we have been graced to journey with of those who have gone on before us.

Every Blessing.

John.