Homeless in America

For a change of pace, I'm going to throw out an issue that does not necessarily have a theological backdrop.  The issue is homelessness. 

Spring Break 07 was the first time I had ever really gotten to know homeless people.  I, along with my now girlfriend and one of my closest friends, hung out at Travis Park in downtown San Antonio, talking to homeless people, hearing their stories, and experiencing on a small scale what they go through on a daily basis.  My conclusion? There is NO stereotype of a homeless person.  They are all different... different backgrounds, different goals, different reasons for being homeless.  

I made friends with this group of "squatters" who basically just found each other.  They travel by train and only stay in cities for about a week.  They ranged in age from mid-20s to mid-30s and they accepted me into their group for the few days I was there.  It was almost an out-of-body experience.  I was suddenly in a world where sobriety was foreign and life was just dealt with on an hour-to-hour basis.  No care to work, no care for shelter.  Just surviving was key, and to them, that meant finding their next fix.

Now that I've been back into the glamorous life of TCU, I still see homeless people from time to time... and my perception has changed about them.  I don't suddenly judge them for being lazy or worthless.  I look at them as individuals who are just trying to get through the day the best way they know how,  just like me.

We're not going to end the problem of homelessness in America.  I would beg to argue that it is a mindset (not always, but sometimes), and as humans, we are generally stubborn - not wanting to hear what we are "doing wrong."  So, while we can lend a helping hand, we are not going to fix this issue.

So here's where I would like to know your thoughts on the subject of homelessness.  What are your stories, experiences, thoughts about it all?

The Cross - What does it mean to you?

The cross is a symbol that we have seen everywhere growing up...hanging in people's homes, on their necks, in churches, on highways... it has been made of wood, it's been blinged up, some are jeweled, some are wire. Regardless of how it looks, there's no denying that the cross is something we probably see on a daily basis.

So what does the cross mean to you? Do you wear one around your neck, is there one hanging in your room? Why?

There is no right or wrong answer. This is your opinion... I'm just intrigued to hear it.