Summer Challenge 2009
Some of you may know…others may not, but Matt and I experienced the “heat” of this summer when our A/C unit decided to quit. It was over 100 degrees for the few days; okay it was only 2 days that we were without cool air. Our neighbors came to our rescue and gave us a large portable unit that they had at their shop. Believe me, I struggled with my attitude and the I was quickly reminded that there are SO MANY PEOPLE who have so much less than I, many who don’t even have access to clean water. So I shut my mouth and apologized for my prideful attitude!
About a week later, I was in Ventura on one of our beach outings. I had a gift card to Starbucks so I decided to treat myself and the kids! As we walked out with our very refreshing drinks, there was a homeless man who was eating leftover Del Taco and In and Out from the garbage can. My heart sank. This mans reality of his life was within my reach…I could have extended my hand out to him…but instead I loaded my kids into my car and drove off. As I pulled out onto the street, I was stopped at the street light and I saw the man walking towards the crosswalk. Here I was with my nice cold drink, with A/C blowing on my face, sitting in a nice car, heading back to my suburbia, living in a beautiful home, and the list goes on and on. And what did he have?? He had the ability to seek out a place to lay his head every night…the strength to find his food while others are judging him. It dawned on me that I still had three untouched cold bottled waters in my cooler. As he got closer to me, I offered him a bottle. Unfortunately, he did turn my offer down! So I smiled and told him to have a nice day!
I then thought about the homeless man I came across a few weeks prior. He was holding a sign asking for money. Without thinking, I rolled down my window and offered the unopened bottle of water that I had. He gladly took it and said to me, “Wow, it’s cold, thank you!”
Tonight, both men came to mind as I was heading to the fridge for water. I began to think, why not grab an extra bottle of water every time I go somewhere. Almost always, I pack a cooler in my car for my kids, even if it’s just heading out for a bit.
So what is my challenge to all of you:
Put an unopened cold bottled water in a cooler with a little ice pack and when you see a homeless person, purposefully stop and offer the water. And if you want to take it a little further, add a “snack” to your cooler and offer that too!
Why??? Because they are people too who need a cold drink when it’s hot outside! It’s a basic need
Most of us can get intimidated when we pull off of the freeway and are forced to stop at the stoplight where a homeless man is looking at you with a sign asking for money. We tend to look straight ahead and ignore him…thinking, “I don’t have any money to give him and he probably did something in his life that resulted in him being on the street…so he choose it and besides, he’ll just use my money to buy alcohol or drugs!” Okay, so maybe those where once my thoughts, but I am sure I haven’t always been alone in that thinking!
Regardless of why he or she is on the street, they have a story. Don’t we all? Haven’t we gone through life making a few (or many) bad decisions, haven’t we made poor choices and had to walk out the consequences! I know I have…I have quit the story in my life but thankfully my journey never resulted in being homeless.
And since we all have a story and have come through our hard times, shouldn’t we extend our hand and meet the very basic need of humanity…food/water.
Please join me this summer in my quest to help those “near” us! I know when I commuted am out and about, I usually see a homeless person! I see homeless people in my valley and I certainly see homeless people every time I go to the beach. It isn’t hard to grab a small cooler and throw it in your car.
If you don’t want to take that step, I have another challenge…buy a case of water and leave it at my doorstep…or call me and I’ll come pick it up! I will use EVERY single bottle of your water and deliver it to homeless people this summer! I promise you, it will go fast!
