Have you ever really thought about that homeless guy you walked by on your way into AMPM or the homeless woman walking down the street with a pack on heavier than anything you will ever intentionally lift. The short and quick answer is probably not. We normally just continue on with what we were doing and a lot of us will actually lift our noses at them due to the lack of cleanliness or what we think is a lack of drive, like we really know what put those people on the street.
My thoughts on this can be contradicting and cause other mixed thoughts but I think they are worth sharing. Take a minute to think about anyone you know that is truly struggling right now. Don’t act like you don’t know anyone that is in a tough spot right now with the economy the way it is we all do, and if by some crazy chance all of your friends are just peachy in these times and you honestly do not know anyone that is struggling, you need to go make some more friends and stop hiding. Anyways, that is another conversation in its own. Now think to that person you know, maybe they are behind on bills and the mortgage and they have just enough to get by as far as the everyday necessities are concerned and all it would take is one more shove to push them into homelessness.
Now think if you did not know that person and that one more shove took place and you happened to see this person after they have lost “everything” as far as the worldly term everything is concerned. Maybe you are walking into that AMPM on a hot day to get yourself a nice cold beverage and you see that person sitting out front, do you just walk on by because you do not know the story? Or do you think to yourself, ” What if that were me?” Don’t kid yourself, it could be you or me or a friend or family member. I’ll be honest, if I really put my mind to thinking about homelessness I don’t know how I would cope with it. All of the nice stuff I have now, including AC, clean clothes, food in a fridge, a couch. What would I do without all of that?
My answer to that question is I think I would gain ” Homeless Strength.” Some of the strongest people I have ever talked to in my life have been people who are either on the verge of losing it all or have already lost it all, at least in my mind I thought of it as losing it all. I have talked to homeless people who brave the 115 heat of the summer and the 20 degree winters outside on the street and they are happier than any Mercedes driving fine dining executive you will ever meet. Why? I’m sure it is not the new Shopping cart he is pushing his stuff in or the 4 foot by 4 foot square of shade he found to hang out it. I am just making an assumption here that some you reading this are joking or laughing and saying, ” Oh it is probably the drugs he’s on” after all, that would be the stereotypical thing to say , right?
Some of these people are stronger than you and I could ever be, living day-to-day not only dealing with the homeless part but dealing with people who treat them like they are animals that should be caged and put in an area all alone to not affect anyone else around them. Why don’t we help out from time to time and reach out to help get them out of that caged in area that they are “stuck” in. I can list reasons why most of us wont, for instance…. I have earned everything I have I do not need to share what I have with some Bum.. Or simply, why doesnt he/she got get a job like the rest of us. In case you have not noticed Boy genius most homeless people wont be given the time of day on the street why would anyone invite them into a place of business.
Again, you may completely disagree with me and be wondering why I am even going on and on about this but like I have said before, I am just airing out the things that I think about. Disagree, or get pissy all you want these are my thoughts I am not forcing you to agree and I am not telling you to go out today and adopt a homeless person. But if you want to share your thoughts with me on this, Please feel free!
Raymond
All Things Raymond 