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Bent Hope: A Street Journal
It has been called one of the greatest tragedies of our time. In an age of prosperity and plenty, hundreds of thousands of people continue to find themselves destitute and homeless. Bent Hope was born out of Tim Huff's unique and extensive twenty-year ministry among homeless and street-involved youth and adults in Toronto, Canada. It is a collection of thoughtful narratives birthed beneath crumbling bridges and in the hidden alcoves of darkened alleyways. Each chapter reveals a unique life-story-unpredictable, intriguing and compelling. These gripping true-life stories surface quietly from unforgiving corridors of fear, hurt and uncertainty that unexpectedly and supernaturally transform into fascinating places of intimacy and godly anticipation. While the surface aims of Bent Hope are to inspire and educate, the author's core objective is not to reveal the grand experience of ministry "to" the poorest of the western world's poor, but to expose the extraordinary beauty of being blessed "by" and "among" them.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2008
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34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
July 28, 2019
BENT HOPE was born out of Tim Huff's first twenty years of unique and extensive work among homeless and street-involved youth and adults, in one of North America's largest urban centres - Toronto, Canada. BENT HOPE a street journal by Tim Huff is a collection of thoughtful narratives birthed beneath crumbling bridges and in the hidden alcoves of darkened alleyways after midnight. These gripping true-life stories surface quietly from unforgiving corridors of fear, hurt and uncertainty - and unexpectedly and supernaturally transform them into fascinating places of intimacy and godly anticipation.
"...this is a book about the beauty, the wonder and the holiness of all humanity, even the bent-out-of-shape ones." Quote from forward by Michael Frost
All the chapters were interesting and moving and each one caused me to
pause and reflect on the words written. Some were very sad and others gave a reason to rejoice.
'Chapter 11: Gumballs in Russia' gave a brief insight to the culture there, and also showed the similarities between their young children and ours.
Some of the quotes from BENT HOPE jumped out at me and I felt the need to include them.
"Ordinary riches can be stolen: real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you." Oscar Wilde
"It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare." Mark Twain
"Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Devine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life."
'The 19th-century French poet Victor Hugo said,"Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones. When you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God is awake."'
This book was a real "eye opener" and I recommend it to anyone genuinely interested in learning about the "street people" and their lives.
4.5 hopeful stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
"...this is a book about the beauty, the wonder and the holiness of all humanity, even the bent-out-of-shape ones." Quote from forward by Michael Frost
All the chapters were interesting and moving and each one caused me to
pause and reflect on the words written. Some were very sad and others gave a reason to rejoice.
'Chapter 11: Gumballs in Russia' gave a brief insight to the culture there, and also showed the similarities between their young children and ours.
Some of the quotes from BENT HOPE jumped out at me and I felt the need to include them.
"Ordinary riches can be stolen: real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you." Oscar Wilde
"It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare." Mark Twain
"Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Devine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life."
'The 19th-century French poet Victor Hugo said,"Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones. When you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God is awake."'
This book was a real "eye opener" and I recommend it to anyone genuinely interested in learning about the "street people" and their lives.
4.5 hopeful stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
January 1, 2011
What can I say? I still have not grasped the profound depth this book will have on my life. It is a well-written account of the lives of homeless people with tales filled with grace and hope and heartache. I will be sharing this book with everyone who will listen. It is a must read but heart-breaking at the same time.
May 25, 2009
Best book of the year. I loved it.
May 10, 2019
A remarkable account of Tim Huff's 23 years of hanging out with street people in Toronto. I believe his foremost objective was to gain their trust and validate their humanity. Everyone has a story and a reason to be where they are. No one is without hope. We met many of the people who've touched Tim's life and in turn has made me, the reader, more aware of what life for a homeless person is like.
Right after I finished this book, I was heading down to Toronto on a bus for my husbands marathon run. I purposely put coins in my pocket so I would be ready to help the homeless people I might see on my 4 km. walk to the Finish Line. I did encounter I person in a sleeping bag under an overpass, but that person was "dead" to the world. So my coins stayed in my pocket. It was just that my awareness was at a high level, since reading the book. next time....
Right after I finished this book, I was heading down to Toronto on a bus for my husbands marathon run. I purposely put coins in my pocket so I would be ready to help the homeless people I might see on my 4 km. walk to the Finish Line. I did encounter I person in a sleeping bag under an overpass, but that person was "dead" to the world. So my coins stayed in my pocket. It was just that my awareness was at a high level, since reading the book. next time....
May 8, 2018
I love this book. I remember it well. I ponder its message even years after reading it. It is now part of who I am. Tim Huff shares life with those who live on the street and identifies their loving actions toward one another in many unlikely places. Thank you Tim Huff for living this and thank you to the young street ridden teen for giving it to me to read. May you find your way beautiful man.
April 18, 2025
Seeing people as people. That is ultimately the message of this book, and it is given in a beautiful and poignant way that truly touches the heart. Too often, I know, I look at people on the street as "problems", or make assumptions about why they are there, but whatever the reason, the simple fact is that they are there-and they are people.
October 3, 2020
Sadly, only 5 stars are allowed. This book will hopefully break your heart, bring some smiles and a lot of tears and most of all, help you see. It is an easy read if you can read it without at times stopping in anguish. An extremely important book!
December 20, 2016
I too want to share this book with everyone. The book is not long. Each chapter tells a completely new story of another "street person". Yet each is so powerful, that not very many can be read in one sitting. Incredible compassion combined with tough street wisdom, from this amazing human being, Tim Huff.
April 29, 2016
This book cannot leave you unchanged. Tim Huff has such a beautiful way of writing, with deep truth, profoundness and heart-impact. If I needed to pick a book that should become required reading, this book would be at the top of my list.
June 5, 2012
You cannot read this book and remain complacent about the plight of the homeless.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews