SAMANTHA GLENN 

"Be a Balm" by Elia Abu Madi Be a balm when time turns into a speckled snake, sweetness when others turn to bitterness. Life has given you all its treasures; do not then be miserly with its gifts. Do good, though you may not be recompensed by a word of thanks. What reward does rain expect when it falls? Who rewards the scent-giving flower? Who repays the singing nightingale? My friend! Learn love from them, a precious lesson I have found. Strive for the happiness of others if you wish to be happy in life. Awaken your feelings with love if they slumber. Were it not for feelings people would be robots. Love, and the hut becomes a bright world; hate, and the world turns into a dungeon. Without wine, the cup is only glass; Without love, man is but bones. If you love the desert, its sand becomes flowers, its deceptive mirage becomes water. When beauty appears to the intelligent man he loves it. The sight of beauty brings suspicion in the ignorant man and he stones it. Do not ask for love from the ignorant; man does not owe until he understands. And be kind to the children of stupidity as though they were ill— ignorance is akin to blindness. Turn your attention from the thorns to the garden flowers, and forget the scorpions when you see the stars. “Be a Balm” by Elia Abu Madi كن بلسماً إن صار دهرك أرقما وحلاوة إن صار غيرك علقما إن الحياة حبتك كلَّ كبوزها لا تبخلنَّ على الحياة ببعض ما.. أحسنْ وإن لم تجزَ حتى بالثنا أىَّ الجزاء الغيثُ يبغى إي همى؟ مَنْ ذايكافئُ زهرةً فواحةً؟ أو من يثيبُ البلبل المترغما؟ عُدّ الكرامَ الحسنين وقسْهُمُ بهماتجدْ هذينِ منهم أكرما ياصاحِ خُذ علم الحبة عنهما إبى وجدتُ الحبَّ علما قيما … لو لم تَفُحْ هذى، وهذا ما شدا، عاشتْ مذممةً وعاش مذ مما فاعمل لإسعاد السّوى وهنائهم إي شئت تعد فى الحياة وتنعما * * * أيقظ شعورك با لمحبة إن غفا لولا الشعور الناس كانوا كالد مى أحبب فيغدو الكوخ قصرا نيراً وابغض فيمس الكون سجنا مظلما ما الكأس لولا لخمر غير زجاجة والمءُ لولا الحب إلا أعظُما كرهَ الد جى فاسودّ إلاشهبُهُ بقيتْ لتضحك منه كيف تجهّما لو تعشق البيد اءُ أصبحَ رملُها زهرأ، وصاَر سراُبها ا لخدّاع ما لو لم يكن فى الأرض إلا مبغضٌ لتبرمتْ بوجودِهِ وتبرّما لاح الجمالُ لذى نُهى فأحبه وراَه ذو جهلٍ فظنّ ورجما لا تظلبنّ محبةً من خاهلٍ المرءُ ليس يُحَبُّ حتى يُفهما وارفقْ بأبناء الغباء كأنهم مرضى، فإنّ الجهل شىءّ كالعمى والهُ بوردِ الروضِ عن أشواكه وانسَ العقاربَ إن رأيت الأ نجما Video collaboration with samanthaglenn.com

Stevie has experienced much loss, losing his wife and 4 year old daughter in a car accident. He never used drugs until that incident and at the age of 25 he became an addict. Things were on a downward trend as he went to prison for 10 years. When he was released, he was living on the streets right across our CityTeam building. From the first meal to working with his case manager, Stevie was able to find continual restoration as a CityTeam resident. Give here: cityteam.org/give

Salvador is one of our guests who always brings a smile to our faces and to everyone he engages with. His positive attitude is infectious and his gratitude teaches by example. On our Love Your Neighbor Day, he recounts the support he has received from CityTeam, and the love that is shown towards all. Tearfully he exclaims, “Praise God!” Give here: cityteam.org/give

Before coming to CityTeam and pursuing recovery, Daniel turned to alcohol to escape. Living a life without hope, he had no will to live. Today, Daniel is living a full and sober life. He is valued in the CityTeam Connect overnight shelter, where he finds deep purpose "living and learning" together with his community. Daniel is now a man of ambition; he's pursuing his goals of becoming a drug and alcohol counselor and purchasing a home.