I can't believe how long ago I graduated from college. It seems like another lifetime, really. There were some great moments while I attended Pacific Christian College (now called Hope International University), and some not-so-great moments as well (I'm thinking mostly of the last semester of my college experience). There were also many poignant, powerful moments that happened - usually moments that came as a surprise to me.
One experience that was very moving was when as a student body, we were locked out of the dorms for a day. The idea was to try and see what it would be like to be homeless - sleeping outside, not eating, etc. Of course, because we lived in the Christian college bubble, most of us, myself included, pretty much stuck around campus, and although I did sleep outside, it was on campus, in a safe place, with other people. People I trust. There were others who actually went over to Cal State Fullerton (which was across the street), and pretended to be homeless over there. I'm sure their experience was more fulfilling than mine, but I'll remember it always just the same.
This memory came up in my head because of a book that has come out recently. It's about a college-age Christian who was living a very sheltered, nice, affluent life in Santa Barbara, CA. One Sunday, he heard a sermon that changed his life, truly. He and his buddy decided to find out what it really is like to be homeless, and for five months they became homeless in different cities around the nation. Two of the cities I have lived in - Denver, where I grew up; and Phoenix - where I lived for three years. They took no money with them, and it sounds like an amazing story. When I get this book, I'll let you know how it is. Of course, I'm still working on processing The Ancient Future - yes, I remember that I need to get back to even the last half of chapter one! It's coming soon, I promise!
2 comments:
I'll be interested to hear what the book is like..I deal with homeless alot in the hospital..most of them related to drug/alcohol issues,some psych issues..there's definitely a stigma to it even here in the hospital..they're labeled the minute they're admitted
Even when I had them as a bedside nurse for 8hr shifts they are very guarded and private and it always amazed me at how many chose to stay in that lifestyle even if they were offered assistance If they did open up to the writers I'm sure they heard some painful stories
When we went on inner-city missions trips in Los Angeles (when I was a youth minister in Colorado), we heard all kinds of stories from homeless people. We would go to a park, buy some donuts, and share them with the homeless people who lived there. We met former doctors, lawyers, regular business people who made a couple of bad decisions and their lives changed dramatically, obviously. They talked of children they hadn't seen in several years, of how easy it is to fall into addictive behaviors, of the guilt and shame. It's heart-breaking.
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