Homeless for the Homeless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MHGP9P1lnM

Friday was the most miserable night's sleep of my entire life, but what an amazing night of a reality check it was because now I know just an inkling of what it feels like to be homeless- even if just for 24 hours. Midtown Fellowship (the church I've started going to & love) planned an incredible opportunity to serve our city. Over 700 of us pulled out our sleeping bags & headed to the Salvation Army on Main St. to sleep outside. It felt appropriate that it was one of the coldest nights we've had in Columbia this Fall- I think it got down to around 30 degrees. I've truly never been so cold- I wore lots of layers, but my ghetto sleeping bag was made for middle school summer camp in South Caro-freakin-lina...not below freezing temps. I was too cold to sleep & when I did finally pass out, I woke up constantly from the uncontrolable shivering my body was doing...numb toes, being strangled from my scarf, sore from the hard ground, limbs in awkward positions losing circulation & falling asleep. Wow, it was rough & I'm so glad I did it.

I'm not going to apologize for the complaining I'm doing because the point is that homeless people have to endure that on the daily! It really is horrible & that's how they live when they have nowhere to go. It's a problem in our city & something needs to be done. We raised a good bit of money & went out Saturday to do service projects, but it can't stop there. I know that the reason I'm here on this earth is to love & help others as much as possible. Making people's lives bettere & sharing hope with those in my path is my purpose. I think it's everone's purpose.

I laid in my bed last night & cried over how blessed I am- After Friday night I got to go home & sleep in a heated room with a big comfortable bed. I got to walk a few feet to wash my dirty clothes & a few more to get anything I needed to eat or drink out of my fridge. Homeless people don't get to wake up the next morning & do that. Dude, I'm selfish & spoiled as hell. It's not even funny. We get one life - let's do something with it. And not only that, but let's never stop thanking & praising God for what He's blessed us with. With Thanksgiving less than a week away, I pray that you'll all realize just how much you have & give genuine thanks for it.

Want to help? Check out this website... www.yeswecansc.org