procrastination

This year I'm suffering from dp syndrome.
That's derelict procrastination in sending out Christmas cards.
There's a lot on my mind.
I have three friends in jail and that reminds me too much of what happened to me.
Last Saturday I saw one of the jailers who treated me with respect and I informed him that the charges were dismissed and expunged.
Alas, a guy who offered me a place to stay is in jail.
Another friend who had an FTA -- failure to appear is incarcerated.
I need to get off my duff and send out Christmas cards.
Thanks for reading this blog.
I just wish someone would comment.
Happy Holidays!!

magic

One of my favorite Christmas memories occurred when I worked in the Wal-Mart Christmas shop in Bentonville.
A cute little girl approached me and said, "Santa, what are you doing here?"
I quickly replied, "I have to make money to buy all of the little children gifts. What do you want for Christmas, honey?"
She marvelously retorted, "No, you don't. You can just do magic!"
Somewhat taken aback and happily experiencing a magical Christmas moment, I responded, "Well, I have to buy gifts for Mrs. Claus."
Her mother nodded her head in agreement and the precious little sweetheart, meekly said, "Oh."
Don't we all remember when we too believed in Santa and thought he could magically bring us something nice, if we had behaved.
The true magic of Christmas is that God endowed the Virgin Mary with a son Jesus.
Today the Wiggins Methodist minister brought all of us joy when he read in Luke about John (the Baptist), Jesus' cousin, leaping for joy in his mother Elizabeth's womb when he learned of Jesus' existence.
Then, Rev. Gary Lunsford, related a story about his leap for joy when his son Quentin scored the game-winning touchdown in a driving rainstorm 15 years ago for Greenland against arch-rival Mountainburg.
Gary said he leaped as high as he ever has in his life. Now picture a 350-pound man leaping for joy and then splattering everyone within a 10-foot diameter, including a man with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
Then he instructed all of us to close our eyes and envision leaping for joy.
Indeed, the joys of Christmas cement memories in our mindsets forever.
What was the greatest gift you received at Christmas.
Forget the material gifts, like the little red wagon I received as a little boy.
The greatest gift transpired in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.
We should all remember the true meaning of Christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the reason for the season.
Merry CHRISTmas!
May the peace and love of Jesus bless us all every day.
We should all arise every morning and let Christ be born in us and let his spirit of giving and loving and forgiving be uppermost in our decision-making.
Shalom.

blessings

The blessings of Christmas were overwhelming this week.
Friends gave me some money during a luncheon engagement Wednesday.
That was well appreciated.
Then, unbelievably someone came up to me at the Razorbacks game Wed. night and asked me if I had written an article in the newspaper. I told him I had a letter to the editor published and he said "I'm proud of you." and handed me $40.
So, Thursday and Friday nights I stayed hibernated in the Motel Six.
I had vowed not to spend my money on motel rooms this year, but since the money was donated I splurged.
And I started walking to the library.
A friend Danny Farmer saw me walking and gave me a ride to the library.
He told me to give him a call if I needed a warm place to sleep.
He said he wouldn't do it for anyone else but me.
So, I'm blessed.
Another friend is going to take me out to eat prior to the Razorback game today.
God Bless everyone during the Yuletide season.
I just wish I could reciprocate.
Happy Holidays!

Christ

I experienced an epiphany yesterday.
My Christ(mas) wish for everyone: Compassion in our Hearts for Jesus.
Reason and Intellect from God.
Soul and Truth from the Holy Spirit.
We all can be born in Christ every day and that's not just a one day celebration of his birth but an every day reawakening to his love and spirit in our lives.
Jesus is the reason for the season.
Or, as Willie Nelson quipped, "Jesus didn't celebrate Santa Claus' birthday."
Too many Americans get too swept up in the me, me, me greed syndrome and forget the true significance of Christmas.
It's a pagan holiday to too many.
So, as we reflect on what we have to be thankful for, we should all be thankful we met each other and helped each other survive a very bizarre year filled with downsizing and job losses and a very poor economy.
I'm thankful for the friends who helped me out and the loving spirit of Christ embodied in their spiritual compassion for me and my plight.
Every morning when I awaken, no matter whether the temperature is 9 degrees or 59 degrees, I praise God for my Coleman sleeping bag which leaves me comfy. I have a warm hearted feeling for those who helped me out.
I enjoy my privacy now and hope the blue light special doesn't deter me from sleeping and keeping a peaceful attitude toward my fellow man.
As Tiny Tim said, "God Bless You all!"

churchesmustserve

This morning I awoke at 5:15 a.m. and originally planned to go to Burger King and spend my last 55 cents on a cup of coffee.
Then, an inner voice said, "Walk to the Central United Methodist Church on Dickson Street for Bible study."
After an hour and 15 minutes of briskly walking I wondered if it would really be worth it.
Indeed, it was.
The Wiggins Methodist Minister Gary Lunsford mentioned that when Seven Hills Homeless Shelter shut down on Saturdays his church was asked if they could serve meals every Saturday.
Gary said that one-third of his congregation objected and didn't want those people in their church.
A memory triggered in my brain.
The first time I reentered the sanctuary at Wiggins where my father pastored from 1973-76, I saw an article I had written about the dedication of the church when it was debt free. It was posted in a frame.
The district superintendent preached about how fortunate the members of the church were to have no more debts on their hallowed sanctuary.
But then he said, "But how many people are here who are on welfare?"
That struck me in an eerie way.
I am drawing food stamps. I'm on a form of welfare. And, here I am attending their church.
I'm sleeping in a tent.
On Sunday after the services, a long-standing member of the church invited me to a pot luck dinner.
I politely disdained and said I wanted to be by myself. I didn't want to embarrass anyone by mentioning the irony involved. I was fulfilling the prophetic message that district superintendent queried the congregation about 35 years ago.
It's still haunting me.
Why am I homeless?
Why did I return to Wiggins?
Am I more acceptable because my father used to be the minister?
Only God knows.

bonding

Sometimes the best friend a homeless person has is another homeless individual.
Indeed, bonding occurs when one faces adversity.
Who do you turn to?
Who do you trust?
Recently a friend aided me in finding a new spot to dwell.
He showed me via a map where his tent was encamped and invited me to move in.
That's what I did.
That was silent bonding between two homeless guys who needed someplace where no one else could intercede, i.e. the police.
Likewise, a friend found shelter from the adverse weather last week when two of his homeless buddies offered him a place to stay.
Thus, bonding occurs and when some adverse circumstance occurs or when some surprise development in improving one's lifestyle advantageously happens destiny avails one to aid one's fellow homeless friend.
Friends bond together in unique ways.
Homeless people don't trust many others except themselves.
Been there. Done that.
That's the attitude and response one finds amongst the have-nots in this sub-culture of homeless.
So, when you're down but not out, sometimes your best friend is another one of the homeless.

undercover

Thanks to Ryan Rusch, Brian Smith, Aaron Elleman and Rob Apple for aiding and abetting me in conquering Mother Nature's recent cold snap.
Indeed I've crackled and snapped a couple of times but huddling up covered by my Coleman sleeping bag makes a difference between freezing and frozen.
This morning I just slept in a little longer than usual because I was so warm.
I finally finagled and got my contrary zipper to cooperate and keep me a little warmer than the past few nights when I didn't feel like working with the stuck zipper.
Last night I was bound and determined to zip it up tighter.
The main difficulty is extricating oneself from the blanket when you wake up.
You sometimes just don't want to go outside while it's colder than a coal digger's derriere.
I'm thankful every night and every morning for the Coleman sleeping bag donated by Rusch, Smith, Elleman and Apple. Sounds like a law firm doesn't it?
Well, they're at the top of my list for friends aiding friends.
Plus, it saves me money. Last year I would've spent money on a motel room.

zippers

The last time I had difficulty with a zipper the owner of Old Town Cleaners in Bentonville provided me with a safety pin to avoid exposure of my BVDs.
Last night I experienced a stuck zipper and experienced exposure to the frigid weather.
So I improvised and woke up this morning with my Coleman sleeping bag completely covering me.
I remember the rock group Three Dog Night which was named for an Eskimo tradition.
The coldest night of the year was a three dog night.
I don't plan on adopting any dogs, raccoons or skunks to provide me with a warmer environment.
I just plan on keeping warm vis a vis blankets, thermals and two pairs of socks.
Shivering is not my favorite lifestyle but that's the life of an outdoorsman.
I just wish I'd advanced past Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

sleeping

Some might wonder how a homeless person endures the winter weather conditions.
Actually once you're sound asleep and have a very warm sleeping bag it's not as frigid as it sounds.
On the flip side it's uncomfortable when one has to commune with Mother Nature, so to speak.
The main worry is critters but now that it's winter weather the bugs are gone.
The main scenario is to find a hidden spot so human critters won't interfere. Many have stuff stolen whenever too many people discover your whereabouts.
But I've learned not to waste my money on a motel room like I used to do.
It's better to just rough it and endure and save your money for another day.
Also, it helps to have friends who don't mind you sleeping at their pad.
My friends in Bentonville told me this week they want me to pay them $25 a week or $100 a month. I guess I'll have to pay them $50 every time I get money directly deposited.
I knew sooner or later the free room and board would come crashing down on me.
They are also avidly awaiting when my food stamps kick in again.
I just hope they oblige and pay me what they're worth.
In Bentonville there are no free lunches like in Fayetteville.