Spiritual Realities #2a – The Powers That Be: Homeless and Hurting

All About Power

bird watching

Adjusting to homelessness isn’t easy. The mental-emotional stresses we daily face are overwhelming. Even now, I’m not so sure that anyone truly “adjusts” to homelessness. Instead, we struggle and we cope. Our daily provisions come from kindhearted ordinary people like yourself, or charitable organizations through whom we become recipients of the Father’s care (Matthew 6:25-34). Jesus, too, depended upon that Same Care when he had no permanent place to lay his head, yes?

As many new homeless people do, my heart grieved over my loss. What did I have left to hold on to except an unseen God in whom I had placed my faith? Faith told me that God had my back. Faith reminded me that God knew where I lay my head. Faith assured me that God shared my sorrow; that he understood my pain, my anger—especially when I wanted to lash out at the powers that could manipulate my lifestyle so freely, so drastically, and so cruelly.

Due to my changed living conditions, new issues surfaced that previously would have remained dormant. I don’t take drugs; I don’t drink; and as a past mental health therapist, I was surprised to find how easily paranoia surfaced in my mind. Whenever I entered stores, the workers seemed to dog my steps, watching me from across the aisle as if I was going to steal. Whenever I strolled about in town, it seemed that cops’ cars tended to pass by me slower than necessary. Was my homelessness so obvious to them all?

More than that there’s absolutely nothing for a homeless person to do during the day. Even worse, if you’re not part of a homeless family or belong to a group of homeless chronics—both for whom care is available—then what do the rest of us have to keep us busy? Nothing. We’re loners. We feel ostracized from the human race of empowered people, who have someplace to go, something to do, and somewhere to live.

At least nighttime was better. I had a safe place to lay my head. By six the next morning, I vacated my sister’s couch, not wishing to abuse her generous offer. Lucky me. Unlike other homeless people, I at least had a place to shower and groom.

Next week: #2b –  The Power to Make Do: A Nomadic Lifestyle

# 7a – A Story of Homelessness and of Faith that Purifies the Heart (Part 1 of 3)

2) Help others do the works of faith

Under an evening streetlight, I silently waved goodbye to my ‘ohana (family). They watched from the window of what used to be my fourth floor residence. Then quietly, as if to match the somberness of the moment, a bible verse “walked” across my mind. “All things work for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Was God asking me to trust him no matter how my homeless situation unfolded?

I slept in my car that first night and grieved over my loss. I had nothing now except faith in an unseen God in whose hands I had placed my life many years ago. Faith told me that God had my back. Faith reminded me that God knew where I lay my head. Faith assured me that God grieved and hurt with me; that he understood my anger, my desire to lash out at the powers that had manipulated my lifestyle in one moment of time.

Relatives eventually put me up at night. By 5:30 in the morning I’d be gone, not wanting to become an unwelcome guest. During the day, there was nothing to do, nowhere to go—except to state parks. These were hassle-free at the time and provided the necessary bathroom facilities.

The alienation and mental-emotional stresses we face daily are overwhelming. Add to that the recent criminalization of homelessness by governing powers, and our situation escalates to insurmountable. No one truly "adjusts" to homelessness.

Instead, we dodge and cope.

(A Story of Homelessness...continues in Part 2 of 3)
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Scripture from the King James Version (KJV) of the bible.