Hope

Last night at Tent City was an exceptional experience that I'm going to share with you all... last night I was shown (again) that the Street Teams of Spread Peace Reno deliver much more than food, clothing and shelter... we have been delivering Hope and Faith.

When Laramie and I first started helping with the nightly meals, we met Danny. This Viet Nam veteran was gruff, stand-offish, pessimistic, and ornery. He had little faith in humankind, or even himself. He had little hope for the future, little drive or initiative, beyond Tent City. We have seen a remarkable blossoming of the man's spirit over the past months.
A few weeks into our service, Laramie had a meltdown at Tent City... when a gentleman there confided in her that he "wished the Lord would take him and alleviate his pain and suffering." Danny was there to console Laramie in her tears, and I believe that seeing her compassion for a man she had just met truly touched Danny's heart.
From that week on, Danny met us with a smile. He talked about going back to school to become a chef. He talked about working with the VA to get a roof over his head. He talked about inviting us to dinner for a meal of his own cooking.
He began speaking with Hope in his words. Last night, he showed us a key to a place with four walls and a roof.

During last evening's visit, Laramie and I heard a man singing a song from the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" so we joined in. Our songs and laughter touched the heart of another man... and last night we began bringing hope and faith to him. I don't know his name, so I'll call him Arkansas... since that's where he's from, and why the songs from the movie "take him back home."
At some point during this last week, Arkansas injured the L4 and L5 vertebrae in his spine. He is going to need surgery to correct it. After the surgery, he will be put in a place where he will get the physical and occupational therapy that he will need to gain employment... and he will have "three hots and a cot" for a while, too. But, until then, he will be sleeping on the ground in a tent. Through the loving donations from another, we were able to provide him with a pillow, a small measure of comfort, considering his physical condition.
The pillow was nice, but the songs did so much more. They had so much meaning for him... they were like a sign from the universe that he will be alright... hope.

When the Street Teams take food to Tent City, we are delivering more than meals... we are delivering Hope and Faith.
This is not faith in a greater power or god... not faith in humankind... not just faith in themselves... but Faith. The kind of Faith that is all encompassing... the kind that is more than a feeling, but a state of being.
They dare to Hope.
And in that Hope and Faith, they dare to feel ok with who they are... they begin to dare to dream... and in that dreaming, they begin to explore new horizons and think of ways to get to where they want to be... literally or figuratively... they dare to try... dare to succeed... and then they do.

And it all started with a bowl of soup... a smile... a hug... a song...

I am so grateful for the opportunity to really See this beauty.

Namaste'