"I can say that the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy which I have seen in my life were in poor people who had little to hold on to."
~Pope Francis
My heart is with the people on the streets.
I used to say I left my heart in Peru, for I traveled there first when I was 16. . . .
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Don't you ever wish you could forget about yourself?
I don't mean in a self-flagellating sort of way, but wouldn't it be nice if we could really naturally focus on other people and just think less often about ourselves—and not even notice we weren't thinking about ourselves because it came so naturally?
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I've seen David several times before. He has these beautiful, sea green eyes that are hard to miss. For the first time today, we talked.
I'm not sure what my perception was before, but I didn't expect him to be so friendly. He told me immediately that he had mental health issues and was having a particularly difficult time because of staffing changes at the shelter. His former therapists had left, and the new ones lacked compassion.
Read MoreSome people cry.
Some people laugh.
At any given moment in the world, people are laughing and people are crying.
Read MoreI created the video below to give a little better feel of what it's like being on the Corner every week. It highlights the past 5 months on the Corner!
Read MoreWhen you get the flu, you go underground. You don't get to write any clever Christmas or New Year's posts. You are lucky to get a shower in for the day, and perhaps even luckier to remember to brush your teeth.
The flu hit two days after Christmas, as my husband Austin was recovering from his own illness, complete with 102.2 degree fever, that hit him Christmas day. And so we both went underground, and today is the first day to resurface.
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A short man, his head coming to about my eyes. He is younger than many we see, but he is not young. He came around towards the end of the day last week*. I was talking with another man named Steve when he showed up . . .
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My sweet friend Sadie Batson wanted to help people in need in Dallas. She decided to do something for the homeless. I hope her creativity in meeting a need inspires you. It meant a lot to me. These are her words:
"About a month ago, Dallas had its first cold day of the year. I was pulling out a coat to wear and noticed I had a few coats I hadn't worn in years. I didn't want to keep them and wondered what I could do with them. Should I donate them to Salvation Army? It seemed like a good idea, and I planned to do it later on that week.
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Robert. The street preacher. We met him in September or so. Big, burly man, likely in his mid 40s. Normally slightly intoxicated when he stops by the Corner.
Booming voice. Huge heart. Always talking about God, how he loves being around other folks like him, “my people,” as he calls us.
Read MoreRobert. The street preacher. We met him in September or so. Big, burly man, likely in his mid 40s. Normally slightly intoxicated when he stops by the Corner.
Booming voice. Huge heart. Always talking about God, how he loves being around other folks like him, “my people,” as he calls us.
Read MoreLet's get real. Going to the Corner is not always easy. In fact, some weeks I do not want to go, and as I drive there, I wonder why I'm doing it. Sometimes, when I get there and park, and then open my car door and smell the body odor, I want to shut the door and drive away. Sometimes my heart is so heavy when I walk up to the homeless men and women gathered, I want to run and hide.
Read MoreThanks to a very generous donor, Edward got his books today! The woman who "met the need" would like to remain anonymous, but she gave me permission to tell how she found out about Edward's need.
She wanted to give back, and decided to Google for ways to do that in Dallas. She randomly came across Edward's story, was touched by it, and reached out to me. Simple as that! What a kind, generous heart! Thank you, anonymous person!!!
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If you had told me on January 1, 2013 that by November 13, 2013, I would be committing my life to full-time help those in need, I would have laughed at you. Though it might have seemed exciting (theoretically), the chances of it happening in my mind—well, it wasn't a possibility.
It just goes to show you that you never know. . .
Read MoreI'm excited to give an update on our first "Meet the Need"!
Edward will be receiving some new works of historical fiction and perhaps a mystery book or two next Thursday. His library fine will also be paid that day . . .
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Socktober was a success! We had hundreds of homeless men and women come through for hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, and then the best part . . . Texas Instruments (TI) came with 800 pairs of socks, 150 blankets, and hundreds of toiletries kits.
Read MoreHow does one cope with the sadness present on the streets?
On what should have been a bright and sunny day for me—and was in fact a bright and sunny day outside—I felt heavy-hearted.
Glorious things of Thee are spoken.
It was different on the street last week with lots of “normal” people around (many wonderful volunteers came to the Corner last week). I use the term normal because we really do think of ourselves as normal and them—homeless people—as abnormal.
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Last Thursday, something wonderful happened. I got to see my friend Bunny again.
When I first started going to "the Corner," I didn't know what I know now: sometimes you fall in love with a beautiful person and you never get to see them again. I thought Bunny might be one of those people. She was my first homeless friend.
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On Halloween, CitySquare will host their first annual Socktober, and I get the privilege of partnering with them for this exciting event!
Foot care will be a focus of this neighborhood event on "the Corner," inspired by the need documented for foot care in this post. We will be handing out socks, hot meals, blankets, and other warm items for the impending cold weather.
Read MoreI think we are most beautiful when we feel most like ourselves. That sort of beauty emanates from within. It is not just outward and physical; it is tangible. You can feel it. When we feel most like ourselves, who we are radiates from us, and that is beautiful. I feel most like myself on a street corner, sitting on the dirty concrete with homeless men and women. I feel most like myself when I, on some level, forget about myself and am focused on other people—their lives, their stories.
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