Hi Journey2Life,
My comments follow below those of yours I wanted to comment on....
You know as long as people here keep interacting with me over this...I will keep posting. I really like interacting on forums so given that this is something I enjoy, I hope you all will bear with a bit more of my meandering comments
. It's one of the few things that I can enjoy just now and it does help me to feel somewhat connected to the human race though of course, not everyone sees eye to eye with me on things. But that's okay...
Quote:
Originally Posted by journey2life
Carlos...you have been posting for a while...has anyone from the SD area given you the contact information for the laws and maybe local authorities....or hey someone mail his friend a phone book so he can do the research to make an informed decision...
|
No. No one gave me the phone number. I got a chance to get on the Internet again yesterday (or was it the day before) and looked it up for myself. Even gave them a call. The police lady I talked with sure didn't sound like the mean-spirited, rude, abusive type of police person that some here said would run me out of town
.
She did tell me it was illegal to just put up a tent near some bush and sleep in it overnight. It's some ordinance against supposedly illegal camping. I'll have to look it up and see if there are some loopholes
. Such ordinances are really kind of ironic since the Earth and all that is in it is the Lord's. Maybe He should create some law against city hall being built on his turf and come down hard on those who don't even recognize the rightful Creator and owner of all that we have been given. But He is merciful and compassionate. I just wish that persons in authority had a bit more of that.
Today I bought a Wendy's meal for a homeless guy that was hanging around the door of where I am accessing the Internet from. I had to do something. I mean how I could justify doing nothing and passing by when I have been so hurt on seeing so many, even of my so-called brethren (or those who call themselves Christians) pass by and do absolutely nothing to even offer to help me in any way, shape, or form. Not that I ask but there have been plenty that have known of my situation and have done absolutely nothing. Nada. Zippo. Not even to encourage me or say a word of kindness to me to help me keep up my spirits. Thank God that He has encouraged me to no end through what I have been reading. I wish I had time to write down everything the Lord is doing as I continue to walk by faith.
But...getting back to the homeless guy. The business owner came out while I was talking to the homeless guy and proceeded to ask if I was experiencing any trouble. Long story, short...the guy had been banned from coming to the Tim Horton's where I was. For good reason mind you.
So me and him proceeded to talk some more on the sidewalk. From what he told me, he was barred from going to the city mission too because he got into a fight there. Someone stole his duffel bag and he saw the person he got into a fight with wearing some of his clothes. Instead of understanding the situation and perhaps trying to talk things through, the mission - that so-called bastion of human decency in the face of need...well...sumarily passed judgment in the wink of an eye and booted him out. Into the cold.
So this guy is out on the street. Literally. I can only begin to imagine what that must be like. Every year a few freeze to death around here.
Mind you...that is only his side of the story but based on my experiences with such places and things I have seen with my own eyes...it is not beyond belief.
Jesus would not have done such a thing.
Having said that I can fully understand the concern of the business owner in not wanting to encourage a bunch of homeless people to congregate outside the door of his business and beg. This man was not asking for money at the time I talked to him. I got out of my seat and went out and talked to him. But he was placed in such a way that it was pretty obvious that he was either panhandling or waiting for a hand out.
Perhaps the best solution overall is for no one to give such persons any money. Ever! That just encourages wrong behaviour. I never give money to homeless persons. But at the same time I believe we should help one another according to our needs. With all that we have. Just as Jesus would have done. A tough balancing act but I think it lies within the power of us all, but especially of Christians I think, to take one homeless person at a time aside and get to know them a bit.
You don't know what an encouragement it is to have somebody, sometimes anybody, say hi and ask how you are doing. To show some degree of care. Even if by doing nothing more than buying someone a sandwich and letting them know that God loves them.
Quote:
|
Also beings that you are a man of Faith...anyone want to give him the information about local church groups...
|
I appreciate the thought Journey2Life but quite frankly I am utterly and completed disgusted with those who I call churchians. Persons who go to a Sunday building once a week and then live for themselves the rest of the week. Like the rich man having his fill while Lazarus eats the droppings from his table...many churchians live life merrily while the rest of humanity grovels about to receive the meager droppings that drop from their table.
I know that may sound harsh but I have seen things and experienced things that have turned my stomach regarding so-called Christians. For the most part Churches are useless in truly coming alongside to help someone according to their real need. It is one thing to give a pittance to some soup kitchen and to perhaps even volunteer there once in a while. It is quite another to get involved personally in knowing someone and finding out how best to help him or her out of one's own means.
Churchians are great at the former. When Christ would have them do the latter!
I recall once several years ago when I found myself in need again. I was so sick I thought I was going to die. No biggie mind you as I have often wanted to leave this world and enter into the next where there will be no more pain, and sorrow, and hurt. I know I have been forgiven. That I am loved by God and will end up in heaven.
But I was really sick. Could not work. It was bitterly cold and I was sleeping in my truck. At that time I had not yet learned to survive well during a winter in my truck and was sleeping in the cold.
One day, in addition to being super sick with something like the flu, I woke up with an eye infection that shut my eye. I went to an emergency room and never got in after waiting around something like 8 hours. I then went to a clinic and even though there were something like 20 people ahead of me in line they put me right in. I must have looked like death warmed over.
I was given a prescription but did not have enough money to fill it. $12 and some odd cents to be exact.
That night I went to sleep in my truck again and woke up the next morning with both eyes infected and shut. I managed to open them by ripping the dried puss off the lids.
Well...I went around to four different "Christian" leaders and asked them if they knew of anyone within the Church that could help me with my prescription. That I would even pay them back. No one knew of anyone. And none even offered to perhaps help me fill it themselves. I had the prescription with me. I knew that I could make one call to social services and that it would be filled but I wanted to give glory to God and I told them so.
That night I went to be among my friends at a soup kitchen. While I railled against the hypocrites among so-called Christians, an acquaintance who was kinda mental but a nice guy nevertheless offered to loan me the money.
I accepted his loan, got the prescription, and paid back the money and some besides within a week.
I never forgot that. Christ died for our sins and these so-called brethren of mine were not even willing to lend me $12 DOLLARS! I had even heard one of the "Christian" leaders talk up a storm in a sermon about how we need to love one another a few days before.
The above is from what I recall and my memory of the events that transpirred may not be 100% but it essentially happened as I have described it. I have it all in my journal which I just don't have in front of me just now.
So regarding Churches...they are nice for singing and putting on Christmas plays and perhaps even for going around caroling but they are next to useless for truly helping those in need according to their real need. They tend to lump everyone together as a down and outer and treat you like second class citizens when you are in need. Or don't even bother getting to know you enough to minister to your true need as Jesus would have done.
I once even tried to start a bible study at a soup kitchen but couldn't. To do so I would have had to abide by their policy of not associating as friends with those they "minister" to. How could I do that? I couldn't if I was going to be like Christ to the people going there.
Like I said...Churches (that institutional thing that has come to be associated with what Jesus Christ began but that is nothing like He intended) tend to disgust me and I would rather die than go to one to let them know I am in need only to be treated like some bum or to be deemed a person in need (and not a brother in Christ) deserving of whatever meager bread crumbs they are willing to hand out to me.
God has been faithful to take care of me without my needing to go around asking people for help. Not that asking for help is beyond me. But I am not going to be allow myself to become an object of pity to placate the conciences of those who are unwilling to give up their lives in service to God.
Quote:
|
With all your resourcefulness and if the jobless rate is high maybe he can help others with his life experience...and the way you have hope and encouraging words...you would be a great person for those who are truly downtrodding...
|
Ironically I do find that I am able to befriend those in need and be accepted as one of their own more readily than I am usually able to connect with those who are relatively well to do in this life. Not that I can't connect with the well-to-do mind you. I can. It's just that often the people who are the most real are those who have nothing left. They can't hide their failings and you either accept them as they are, such that they are willing to be your friend, or you do not. They are in turn very accepting of me too. And that acceptance can be an enriching thing.
I would rather be among the poor and downtrodden who are real than with those persons who are relatively wealthy and who, although being as frail in their humanity as anyone else, hide behind false fronts.
Quote:
|
Do you actually have that much stuff?
|
Yeah...I got quite a bit left (though I already gave a bunch away). Laser printer, dolly, Canon S5 IS camera and accessories, games, CD's, all kinds of manly tools, 12 volt cigarette lighter plugable stove, and lots more. I even have a bottle of Chilean wine (never opened) that was given to me as a gift
. I got's to figure out some way to sell it all.
At least the stuff that is not worth taking with me.
I don't know if I mentioned this before but where I live one can carry things like boxes of gifts and such on the LRT. People are allowed to carry all kinds of things. So I have discussed (with bus drivers) taking one Rubbermaid container of my stuff on the subway (LRT) at a time and sitting down with a sign hanging off the box saying something like "Moving to San Diego. Everything in box for sale. Ask me for a look see!". I would not be doing anything illegal. And they can't stop me taking a box along for the ride. Who knows...maybe I will be able to sell my stuff that way. One bus driver even said that might make an interesting human interest story
. Can you see some newspaper reporter sitting there with his camera at the ready...waiting to see if someone will actually buy anything from me. Of course if it got into the paper I think my stuff would sell in a heartbeat.
I also thought of this...they allow musicians to play in subway stations here. So...I can go with one of my boxes and sitting on it sing "Fa, la, la...doe, re, me" over and over again until someone, in response to a sign again hanging off my box, asked me for a look see. At which time I will take a break and...well...hopefully sell them something. That was just an idea though. I don't know if I am that desperate to sell my stuff LOL. I mean that would take some...well...chezpa I think is the word.
Quote:
|
Is the truck that important to you at this point.
|
Not really. It doesn't sound like you have read the rest of this thread (understandable given that it is getting so long) but my truck is broke and cannot any longer be insured. It's done for. But it looks like I will get $1000 for it from the insurance company of a guy who smashed into me a couple of months ago
.
Quote:
|
If the Canadian Salvation Army has that going on ...does your destination have the same service...
|
I'm looking into that. If I can't figure out a way to come to San Diego and live legally there I will have to try for Orlando or maybe Phoenix (until it gets too hot and I will have to move again). I know Orlando but it's a whopping 5 days away by bus. Still...I can get rent a room in Orlando for $50 a week. Lot's of people can use the extra $200 a month. And there is no state income tax! Don't know what I will do quite yet but I got's to make a decision quick. I can continue sleeping in my truck until Dec 15th only.
Quote:
|
anyhow....keep the faith...don't let life distract you from focusing on God through Grace
|
You can say that again! If it wasn't for my relationship with the living God I would probably have become just another homeless bum living on the street or more likely would have just killed myself (since even apart from Christ I don't think I could have stooped down to become a begging bum).
If you are a true Christian Journey2Life, please keep me in your prayers.
Carlos
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Responding to Carlos
I admire your adventurous spirit...I too want out of the cold...& it is more cost effective to live the way you are...think of people in other countries...we don't judge those in poverty countries...for "having" to move from place to place to get food...
