“Being Homeless. Having a Home.”

Written by Hal Jefferson, formerly homeless

Being homeless, sleeping under freeways, parks, empty buildings. Watching people fight over cardboard boxes spots under the bridge as though they were paying mortgages on them, being assaulted twice myself. My place is a five star suite to me. No more standing in line for everything. Showers, to eat, wondering if your name will be called to get in the shelters first of all. Come on man, I’m in control of it all now. Meals are great, being the good cook I am, clean bathroom, bed, kitchen, even a backyard to play in. Living on the street for a couple years taught me a whole lot about myself. I had jobs, but nowhere to call home. Working and sleeping on the street is a big challenge. You cannot tell peoples to be quiet, I have to go to work tomorrow. It never works. Believe me, it is not a job you go apply for. This is just life happening, so you learn to fight for it and not squander it, living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life is not always fair, bad things happen to good people. You learn that It’s truly and given that we receive. You stop maneuvering your life really as a consumer, looking for your next fix.

You start distinguishing the differences between guilt and responsibility, honesty, and integrity. They are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds us together. The foundation upon which you must build your life. Stop personalizing things, God’s not punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. So slowly you begin to take responsibility for yourself. Make a promise to the man in the mirror, and make it a point to keep smiling. Trusting and stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart, and God by your side, you take a stand a deep breath, and begin to design you want to live as best you can.

If you still need help, try this: love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy or boast. It is not proud, it does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easy angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love has no delight in evil, but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always preserves. Love never fails. Try it. I did, thank God. Bless you all.