Muddy Water - Paperback

by Al Tysick (Author), Elfrida Schragen (Illustrator)

A lifetime on Canada's streets results in vivid stories ranging from despair to humor to hope. Voices of street people are seldom found in print, yet homelessness, addiction, mental illness, poverty, and other factors are major issues today. As a minister of the United Church of Canada, Rev. Al Tysick deals with the entire range of human experience in this unique volume that helps us to understand street life. Evocative drawings by artist Elfrida Schragen enhance and extend the informal style of the text, weaving art into the varied encounters on the street. The long-detrimental effects of Canada's residential schools highlight why so many street people have Indigenous heritage. The often positive and powerful aspects of that heritage are featured in many stories. This book helps readers to understand why we must free ourselves from every vestige of colonialism, racism, sexism, and any other aspect of institutions that enable inequality, injustice, and poverty. We must move from living in the ego to living for all our citizens.

Author Biography

Al Tysick grew up on welfare with a violent alcoholic father, devout mother, and three younger sisters. He acquired BSc, BA, and BTh degrees and was ordained by the United Church of Canada, despite the struggle of dyslexia. His ministerial work always focused on the poor, initially in Ontario.His award-winning leadership in Victoria, British Columbia, offered unconditional love in a nonjudgmental way to all, via The Open Door, Our Place, and The Dandelion Society.