Do you know what it's like?

I spent 45 minutes on the phone with C. M. today. C. M. is an older, low-income, African-American woman. She knew before I called her that I would not be able to help her pay her past due rent because she did not have children. That didn't stop her from telling me her story though.

In any case, I found her very quoteable. Here are some memorable lines:

"When you’re poor, it’s an emergency everyday. Every day. There is always something you can’t pay for."

"Poor people get treated different. Just look at New Orleans. Those people suffering now, they black and they poor. Poor people get treated like dirt."

"What would I do if I had to be evacuated? I have $4 in my pocket, $4 in one bank account, and $10 in the other. How far would I get?"

" Just ‘cuz I’m poor don’t mean I’m ignorant."

I wish George Bush could have fielded that phone call. She had a lot to say that could have opened his mind to the way things are for poor people today. It was a very remarkable conversation. Reminded me of how little I will ever understand about being her, no matter how long I work this job.

Friendly help with life direction...

A friend of mine sent me an email today, here is a portion:

"Thanks for all your kind words and good advice yesterday and today. Helped me get my head screwed back on straight. I hope you know you're one of the reasons why I've changed so much for the good in these past years."

This is what I want my work life to reflect. I want whatever I do to create these kind of vibes in the universe.

While sitting alone on a bench in the Mall of America today, watching people scurry by, it occured to me that this is the first moment of the rest of my life. Not an earth-shattering realization for this world, but a healthy reality check for me anyway. Sure this morning sucked, sure I dealt with it poorly, sure I feel burnt out, sure. What does that have to do with anything? Not a whole lot. Life goes on, get with it or get off.

In the interest of getting with it, I decided it was time to start being proactive about the next step in my life. To begin that process, I've found a statement of purpose. Mission. Intent. Desire.

I'm not usually one for quoting biblical text, but here goes... Isaiah 58.10:
...if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.

The darkness was definately caving in on me today. Time to start focusing on getting the "brightness of noon" back in my life.