Today, Christmas, what a joyous, happy, and blessed time of the yar, but not for all. So many around this nation and world do not have any food for the day, receive no presents and have no family, so Christmas is tough. Our homeless are in a unique position more people give, come out to help, donate more and feed more homeless at this time of year but the much need gift is yet to be unwrapped, solutions. Today we look at a population who attend a gathering where then get shoes, a backpack and then go and sleep on the dirt or in the bushes. Merry Christmas….
Simply a Christmas Memory
Hey, hello, I don’t know if you remember me or not, I am Howard, or I used to be, I spoke to you awhile back on some pretty touchy subjects. I wanted to speak to you once more, maybe I can catch your attention even more, simply it is ‘that time of year,’ you know, “The Holidays.”
It is so weird to see so many people rushing, running, pushing, going here and there, running red lights and yelling at Jane Doe driver and then turn and flash a smile and say, “Merry Christmas,” it is just weird. I can remember the days, when times were good, I was in that madness and silliness, and it was considered normal, wow!
The pandemic has come and gone, the economy has changed, tourism and shifted, housing and rent has increased and yet y’all sill celebrate in your bubble. Going into deep debt for a few gifts that will be forgotten in days not months. And here we sit with nothing, craving food, warm clothes, and hope. Is there to be Christmas for us this year?
Now I do not even have food to eat, clothes to stay warm or a place to lay my head at night where I am not in absolute fear. Just like baby Jesus, He had no place to lay when He showed up on the scene all those years ago. See, me and my friends, the few that I have, do not like this time of year, as the tourist increase, the police patrols increase. They do not want the ‘bums’ interfering with the tourist money and income. No help or hope is offered, but they chase us and ticket and fine us so that the revenue is protected, but those that are in need matter not.
The people come out in droves at this time of year to offer food and clothes and the like, which is great, but then the hook is set. Most think that we are unsaved, degenerate, losers who must be saved and they are going to get us saved before they hand us a scrap of food. Why do you all assume this? Homelessness does not mean that we are unsaved or lost, many know Jesus quite well and that is what is keeping us through this! How else do you think we make from day to day in the tough spot that it is surviving, not living out here, Jesus is a very close Friend to many of us.
Me and my friends, the few that are willing to come out of the tucked away places would love nothing more than to just have a place to sit, quiet, decorated, peaceful, prepared for this amazing time of year, just to sit and enjoy and maybe drink hot chocolate for an hour or so. Do you and yours realize the importance of this season in all your rushing, spending, cooking, hustling, fussing, do you? But I am homeless so that means that I don’t need or deserve those even minor special traditions of this time of year.
Oh, by the way, you have been told time and again about the rate of suicide climbing at this time of year, correct? Well, it is all the more true in my particular people group, when we realize all that we have lost, all that we are missing, and some are sure that they will never have again, despair grows into hopelessness in the very season of hope! When there is no family and no peace, it is often much easier to check out then to fight on, you know, there is no Christmas spirit out here, sadly.
Will You Continue to Give Gifts & Allow to Sleep in Dirt
OR
Will You Simply Give a Gift that Ends the Cycle, Frustration
