Utne Reader: Sidewalk Redemption: ‘I hang from an iron fence

a banner with the message “Confessions

Heard Here,” then sit beneath it with a

pen and notebook and wait to see what

happens. I have established some ground

rules: I will make it clear to anyone who

stops to talk to me that I’m writing a

story and plan to record their confessions

in my notebook. I’ll use only first names

or made-up names. I will not offer

absolution because I do not consider

myself empowered to do so. “I have

come to hear confessions” is all I will

offer; the interpretation of confession will

be up to the person before me.’