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Thursday, 08 December 2005 07:20 |
| Janese Johnson
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This year on Thanksgiving, we decided to do something different. I went with my 16- and 19-year-old children to volunteer at the homeless shelter.
The whole experience was deep and memorable for all three of us. My son loved it, and for my daughter, it was a healing experience, because the first few months of her life were spent in a homeless shelter before she was given up for foster care and adopted by us.
All five of my kids were adopted, and four of them came from the same birth mother. Their birth mother lived at a homeless shelter with (our) kids before giving them up. My children always saw the shelter as a mysterious place where people go who do not care about others.
Because so many volunteer on Thanksgiving, it took us three years of trying to finally get the opportunity to volunteer this year. I can see why there are so many people who want to volunteer on Thanksgiving. It is such an inwardly rich experience that I will always appreciate. The diversity among the volunteers was great to see.
There were about 40 of us, of various ages and economic statuses. There were a handful of older women who come every year. You could see that they have never been or ever will be destitute, yet they related to the guests with gentle motherly love.
There were the families who came together to share as a family;
individuals who wanted to make a difference; and the staff of the
mission. It was so great to see that so many wanted to spend their
Thanksgiving giving to others.
Rusty, the woman who organizes the whole thing, does so three times a
year, every year. It is amazing to watch how she does five things at
once, and everything runs like clockwork. As she is running around, the
love and compassion from this woman is so encompassing, affecting
everyone around her.
The first group of people who came in to eat were the residents. They
were the men and women who are in the program so that they can work on
their life.
I was quite surprised when they came in. The women and children were making their own Thanksgiving
dinner, so there were mostly men. They talked about how they are
turning their life around and how grateful they are for the chance to
do so. One man talked about how he was there because of an emotional
breakdown he had following the end of his marriage. Another man was
there because of drugs. He proudly claimed that he had been clean and
sober for three months. The sparkle in their eyes shone so brightly ?±?±
they were glad to be alive. They excited to be alive and straightening
their lives out ?®on purpose.?∆
The next group to come in were those people from the streets. The
difference between the two groups was sad to see, but still very
touching. Many looked worn, tired and beat up by life and everything
else.
I had to look deeper to see the beauty, and when I looked deeper, I
could see such beauty in little things. There was a couple that has
been together for 15 years. She said that he has never beaten her and
has only called her a bad name once. The devotion that he had for her
and their love for one another was really touching.
They had little food, little shelter and a very hard life, but the love
they have for one another is a gem that few experience to that degree,
and even fewer treasure.
It was very precious to feel the love that was prevalent from some, but
there also was a deep and profound sadness that permeated the room.
There was a beautiful woman who looked like she has suffered a lot, and
families with small children who have forgotten how to laugh.
There are those who are there because of drugs, alcohol, bad times
and/or mental illness. There are those who will probably experience
hardship throughout their lives, and a wonderful warm meal a few times
a year is a true gift.
There are those who one day will hit a bottom that is so painful that they are willing to do what it takes to get up.
I know this because I too hit a bottom 24 years ago. I was never homeless, but had I kept on my course, I could have been.
One of the most touching moments on Thanksgiving at the shelter for me
was with a young man in his 30s who admitted that he was hooked on
alcohol and drugs and that he was sleeping under the bridge.
The mission was giving inspirational notes to all the guests. He
refused to take his because he didn??t feel cared about. We talked
awhile, and then I asked him if he thought that I cared, and he said
yes. So, I suggested that he take that note and keep it for hard times,
so he can remember that there are those who care. The little smile that
came upon his hardened and worn face as he put the note in his pocket
is one of those sparkling moments that keeps me believing that the
little things are as important in making a difference as the big things.
?ÿ
Janese Johnson has
been doing intuitive counseling nationally for more than 20 years. She
may be contacted at janesej-at-bellsouth.net.
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