just a pencil

I think kids are often just natural at helping others. Yes, they might stare when we would know not to but they ask the questions... They treat people like people. That's all. Jodi at Looking Beyond the Cracked Window wrote this:

There is one man who lives near the malls, he sits on a bench with his cart and stuff...One day the kids and I were going into a store, and the kids said hello...Otto, bold little man, asked him what he needed most...The man said a pencil. The teen asked why a pencil, he held up a crossword puzzle from a discarded newspaper (covered in wiped off garbage) and stated his pencil broke.

We went on our way, and yet the man stuck with me. The thought of here I am spending frivolous money, not that there is a lot of that, yet truly what is the importance of just shopping.

The Teen, bored as we were not anywhere near a store that interests him, asked for twenty bucks and stated he was going to head to another store.

All done with shopping, I headed out with CJ and the Diva, to find The Teen and Otto walking across the parking lot towards this man. At first, my gut reaction was to yell, "Hey guys!", yet, I did not and waited. I calculated in the span of 5 seconds a game plan, should anything go awry...(Damn judgments)

I slowly walked towards them and watched...I could hear them chatting with him again, The teen started to hand him something, I strained to see...

Oh My... Otto and The Teen handed this man, a box of pencils, a sharpener and a brand new book of puzzles! The man was shocked and at first didn't want it, as he was afraid they would be in trouble. That was when I reached them, "No, no trouble."

The man sat there a bit dumbfounded. I quiet settled over us at that moment, a quiet that led to awkwardness. "Okay, you guys ready?" And we turned and began to walk to the truck, when I heard, "Hey lady!"

Glancing over my shoulder the man, looking into my eyes, just said, "Some kids you got there."

I smiled said thank you...
We sat in the truck for all of two minutes..All quiet. Not easy with four children on a shopping rush. All I could say, without letting that knot in my throat loose, was, "I love you guys."

And the day moved on....

Yeah....Some kids I got here.

We've all had our Moments

I just saw the video by Emerson Drive of their song "Moments". I found it to be quite moving and it got me to thinking...

We all fall sometimes. There are times when we want to give up or give in. Why don't we? What makes us so different? I don't know... I only know why we are the same.

God loves each and every one of us and life is worth living, if for no other reason than that. We all have value. We are all loved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The lyrics to "Moments":

I was coming to the end of a long, long walk
When a man crawled out of a cardboard box
Under the E. Street Bridge
Followed me on to it
I went out halfway across
With that homeless shadow tagging along
So I dug for some change
Wouldn't need it anyway
He took it lookin' just a bit ashamed
He said, You know, I haven't always been this way

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that plane ride coming home from the war
That summer my son was born
And memories like a coat so warm
A cold wind can't get through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I stood there tryin' to find my nerve
Wondering if a single soul on Earth
Would care at all
Miss me when I'm gone
That old man just kept hanging around
Lookin' at me, lookin' down
I think he recognized
That look in my eyes
Standing with him there I felt ashamed
I said, You know, I haven't always felt this way

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like the day I walked away from the wine
For a woman who became my wife
And a love that, when it was right,
Could always see me through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I know somewhere 'round a trashcan fire tonight
That old man tells his story one more time
He says

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that cool night on the E. Street Bridge
When a young man almost ended it
I was right there, wasn't scared a bit
And I helped to pull him through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
Oh, lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

Sunday Visits

After spending a few weeks exploring the effectiveness of our efforts in the downtown KC area and finding that the homeless have several resources available in that area, our group began to search for other places to spend our time and energy. Through conversations with others, we were led to an area of KC off Front Street - a commercialized industrial neighborhood. It is in this location that we have spent the last few months building relationships with a small group of homeless that have become like family to us now.

We've met several people, but every Sunday when we head to their "home", we can count on about 6 of the same to be there week in and week out - Marvin, Paula, Dennis, Zach, Whiskey, and Choo-Choo. Our routine is pretty much the same every week whether it's sunny, below zero, sleeting, or blizzarding - we load up a hot meal we've prepared along with bottled water and perhaps some other necessities we know they are in need of and head down there usually on the church bus right after our church is out. On the drive down, the discussion amongst the small group on the bus usually centers on what we'll find when we get there - who will be there today, how they've survived the weather that week, who has hopped on a train and headed for somewhere else, etc. - it's much like we're catching up on the "family" gossip.

When we pull up on the bus where they're usually waiting for us, we honk the horn so those who are back at "camp" can come out, meet us, eat with us, and talk. And that's exactly what happens - we pull out the meal we've prepared, serve it up for them and us alike, we sit down right under the railroad bridge overpass and eat and talk. We spend anywhere from 1/2 hour to an hour chit chatting and sharing stories then we pack up what remains of the food to leave with them and we head home. The return ride always brings discussions of what new things we've learned about our friends that day, what they might need for the next week, who can make the meal the following week and what should it be?

What has always hit me when we leave is the fact that they are very comfortable with where they are - they don't act as if they care to come "home" with us. They are very grateful for the food we've provided, for our company, for other efforts we've made; but they do not make us feel guilty for their situation. They seem very content and satisfied with who they are and where they are in life. It makes me ponder our society - why is it we always want more? We always want what someone else has - why we're never content with what we have?

One thing I know: I hate it when I am unable to go see our friends on a Sunday and I have to wait until the following week to reconnect with them. I look forward to the visits and I believe they center my thoughts and challenge for the week ahead.

Lawsuit in NYC

I just read this article at the New York Post site about an Upper East Side antiques dealer who has filed a million-dollar lawsuit against the vagrants that warm themselves on the sidewalk grate in front of his shop. Presumably they block the view of the fine antiques and have scared away some customers. (OH NO!) The suit asks that the homeless people be barred from anywhere "within a radius of 100 feet" from the store.

When the sidewalks become the property of the storeownwers I imagine all the New York City tourists will be walking in the streets being run down by taxis. When I come to visit the Upper East Side they will shoo me away instantly recognizing that my coat was purchased at Target and my boots at Famous Footware. "Off with you, Hillbilly Woman! You cannot afford to look in on our fine fare!."

Please... someone assure me this is a frivolous lawsuit...
Read it and weep.