Perspective....

I just got back from voluteering for Project Homeless. It's a very worthy cause that offers many homeless or poor in Chattanooga and opportunity to recieve a good meal, medical attention, and many types of services ranging from Goodwill to help with those that are Veterans, but most of the people I spoke with today were just down on their luck.

See, this is the first time I've really done anything more than drop change in the Salvation Army bucket in a long time. I was responsible for giving out bus passes. I have never rode the bus in and around Chattanooga, but after I gave out 235 bus passes I now understand how important they were. One person that I had a chance to meet was named Percy. Percy has been homeless or near homeless since 1984. I asked him why he was homeless, why couldn't he find work. Percy seemed like very capable and was articulate. What he told me chilled me to the bone and really made me think. Percy said, "Mr Clay, I can't read or write, and I have AIDS, who is going to hire me?" I was speechless. I had no answer for him. He went on to tell me that the used to be a drug user and that was how he contracted AIDS and that his parents took him out of school when he was 13 to work. I asked why he hadn't learned how to read and he told me that "letters look funny to me and I could never figure it out." I assume he was dyslexic (sp) Percy then whispered to me if he could have an extra bus pass. I ended up giving him three.

As I sat behind a table on my fleshy behind one poor soul after another came to me for their bus pass. The odd thing was that it seemed like every one of them had a smile on their face. What in the world did they have to smile about?? I finally figured it out. They were happy to be treated as as human beings. Some got haircuts and fresh clothing. Some got medical attention and dental work while they were there. Some even got job interviews from different companies like Krystal and McDonalds right there. Some just got a hot meal from catered my Macaroni Grill and Chili's. I was dumbstruck. Here I have been bitching and moaning about my exams coming up and these folks were thrilled to death to get a new toothbrush and a haircut.

I don't know whether for feel good about what I just did or feel even worse because I don't do more. I'm confused. I guess I feel a little bit of both. I was able to make a few people laugh and those bus passes were like hundred dollar bills, but I definetely should do more. I know first hand what it is like to an inch from homeless. I know what it is like to feel like I'm not a member of society. I was very lucky that my Aunt Jane, Uncle Percy, and Cousin Dave helped me out. That is not to mention the fact that my best friend in all the world stood behind me when I hit rock bottom. He got me to drop the shovel. I have to tell you friends, it took a lot of digging and a lot of apologies to finally pull out of the muck and mire, but it is possible.

The only advice that I could give Percy was to hang on and survive...that there would be opportunities for him somewhere down the line and to jump on it with both feet. The first thing I did was offer my services and teach him how to read. It's the best I could do. Percy kind of shrugged like it was a lost cause. I gave him my phone number. I hope he calls.

The website is Project.Homeless.com.