The Story is Different When You Know the Story

Yesterday I watched 2 or our members walk down the alley with shopping carts full of things. As they walked away I thought, "The story is so different when you know the story."

We have all seen this on occasion. A 'homeless person' walking down the street pushing a cart. It is usually packed with all kinds of things, and no matter how we try to battle it there are many things that cross our minds. Many times judgements are made. They usually look tired, weary and dirty. Yesterday when I saw this it was different. I knew their names. I knew their story.

Terri has come back to the PARC. She is one of our members that has caused many difficult problems on many occasions; however, because of our core principle of 'never running out of chances', Terri has come back. This time she is trying so hard. She is working on managing her anger, staying sober and trying to move forward. Monday morning she showed up at the PARC with her things spread all over our benches. My first response was to tell her to move all her stuff and that she couldn't leave it there. Before I could speak she turned to me and said, "They kicked us out where we were staying. They said if we weren't gone by 6:00 that they would arrest us. We lost our tent and everything. I am tying to consolidate". I told her to gather her things and bring them in, shopping cart and all. Terri spent all day going through her things, trying to decide what she could keep and what could be thrown away. (She really didn't want to part with her books, but they are heavy and cumbersome.)

Yesterday the PARC was celebrating my birthday, so there was a lot going on that isn't normally included in our day. At one point Terri looked over and said, "I have to go." She was having a panic attack and was about to lose it! And, let me tell you that when Terri 'loses it' that it is not good. We were grateful that she left, but all her stuff was still at the PARC. 2 of our members quickly volunteered to take her things to her. They said that they knew where she would go. So, we helped them load those carts with all of the things. It was hard to pack it all in there, but we managed. We helped them get the carts outside and watched them as they walked away pushing their carts.

This is the story. Taylor was pushing one of those carts. He has recently enrolled in Amarillo College, is trying so hard to stay sober and he got approved for housing yesterday. He still doesn't have a house but he will soon. Samuel says that he has been homeless his whole life. He is a great kid with a kind heart, and we are having the honor of watching him change and begin to move forward. As I watched these two men walk away, I thought of their kindness in what they were doing and hoped that they could all find a safe place to stay for the night. (Before you ask, I want to let you know that they have all been banned from the shelters and cannot go there.)

So, that is the story that changes the 'story'. I am grateful to know Terri, Taylor and Samuel. I am grateful for the PARC and that they have a place to come during the day where they are accepted and loved. I am grateful that they have a place that is safe and full of love, and I am especially grateful that they never run out of chances.