The culture of discontent
From Pastor Joel:
“…back to contentment. There is a joy that comes with living within one’s means, a great sense of satisfaction. We’ve lost that joy. We need to reclaim it.
We’re not lab rats and Pavlovian dogs. We don’t have to say ‘how high’ when the merchants of discontent say ‘jump.’ We need to tell them to go to hell…”
Amen.
I have affluent friends who’re living their lives chasing the dollar, and I have poor friends who’re doing it, too. It’s an equal opportunity affliction in this country. It seems that no matter who you are or what you have, our culture teaches you to want more. But enough is never enough — even if you already have what you need. And how do you define what you really need? Ask someone who has nothing. You might be surprised by what you hear.
Bike cops’ efforts with the homeless to be recognized during National Police Week
May 15th is Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and May 10-17 is National Police Week. A number of community events during the week will honor the lives and memories of the 10 members of the Greensboro Police Department who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, as well as recognize the achievements of the dedicated officers who protect and serve us every day.
Members of the Center City Resource Team (the “bike cops”) will be recognized at the Police and Citizens Appreciation Dinner and Memorial Ceremony on Thursday evening for their efforts to assist the homeless in downtown Greensboro. These officers contact me and local homeless service providers about homeless people who need housing, medical care, mental health and substance abuse treatment. Some officers provide blankets for homeless people who sleep outside. They participate in the annual homeless count. Some carry printed lists of services available to homeless people to hand out to those who need them. An officer went with us after his shift ended to deliver furniture to a chronically homeless man who had received a housing voucher and moved into an apartment. The man cried as he talked about how the officer had taken care of him while he lived on the street downtown. These are just some of the many things these officers have done to show kindness and compassion to our homeless friends.
There are definitely times when enforcement is unavoidable in dealing with homeless people (substance abuse and mental illness can produce some pretty uncool behavior at times, and these officers understand where the behavior comes from), but I cannot say enough about how much I appreciate and how grateful I am for the concern, the wisdom, the common sense and the compassion of the downtown bike cops. (And Sgt. Blaylock, too!) They deserve commendation. God bless ‘em all. 
A list of all the GPD awards is below. Read more
Tuesday, May 6th: Eat more, feed more
for emily, audrie and lv
“Friends”
Elton JohnI hope the day will be a lighter highway
For friends are found on every road
Can you ever think of any better way
For the lost and weary travellers to goMaking friends for the world to see
Let the people know you got what you need
With a friend at hand you will see the light
If your friends are there then everything’s all rightIt seems to me a crime that we should age
These fragile times should never slip us by
A time you never can or shall erase
As friends together watch their childhood fly
Thanks for being there. Love, me
Shooting Angels
“… I took this photo on the Burnside Bridge in Portland. The Burnside Bridge is one of the areas of Portland where homeless people congregate. There are a few homeless shelters there and lots of homeless people hang out just underneath the bridge. I was up shooting the bridge at night and the “Made in Oregon” neon sign that can be seen from the bridge.
While I was shooting I was wearing headphones and listening to music on my iPhone. As I was walking across the bridge this man, this beautiful man, approached me saying something while I had my headphones on.
In a moment that I am very ashamed of I did not remove my headphones. Instead I said back to the man that I didn’t have any money. I said this to the man without having heard what he was asking me. I could tell from his expression that he was annoyed by my response. At this point I took my headphones off to hear what he was saying…”
» Read the story behind “Angels Are Messengers From God,” photographed by Thomas Hawk.
Link via Emily.
Homeless News Update, 04/25/08
I’ve been busy doing instead of writing lately, so here’s a little update on local homeless news.
Last night, I attended the third of four planned registration dinner meetings at HealthServe for homeless people without income or health benefits. These have been going really well and a number of those who have attended and registered have already seen a doctor and received medications. Because they are homeless and without income, and they attended a registration dinner, they qualified to have their appointment and prescription fees waived. Awesome. A big “thank you!” to the HealthServe staff and to Moses Cone for making this happen.
Various homeless day center meetings and discussions continue. Greensboro City Council member Dianne Bellamy-Small is leading a group of providers, pastors and advocates who’ve been meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church, along with Council member Goldie Wells. Homeless folks have held a series of meetings at the downtown library, the HIVE, and Grace Community Church. Guilford County Commissioner Paul Gibson has attended some of these meetings, as well, and is hoping to bring all interested parties together soon. Stay tuned…
The Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness in Guilford County recently held a press conference in High Point to announce that a leadership committee is moving forward with implementation of the Ten Year Plan to end chronic homelessness. (Finally!) I skipped the pomp and circumstance. Necessary, I’m sure, but I don’t love PR. My friend Audrie went and reported that there were no homeless people, just lots of “fancy people” and back-patting. Figures. 
Bright note: Jehan Benton of the United Way of Greensboro has been hired as the implementation director for the Ten Year Plan.
The housing support team has moved about 50 chronically homeless people off the street and into housing. It’s ironic that you can sum it up in one sentence like that — “The housing support team has moved about 50 chronically homeless people off the street and into housing.” I could write 50 books, 50 films, 50 songs — at least — about those 50 people. Each one has an unbelievable and compelling story. And each move off the street is complicated, messy, hopeful, chaotic, crazy, real. I want Mitch (program director) to write about it all someday. Maybe he will. Maybe the people in the program will write their stories. This housing program is a good thing. It is not so simple as “people are moving into housing.” Oh no, not at all. I never imagined how complicated and messy it would be, for every person. Or how beautiful. Thank you, God, for this program. And for my friend, Mitch McGee.
Tonight in Greensboro: Urban Sophisticates — The video
From Facebook:
“Friday April 25th a team of directors and camera men will be in Greensboro, NC to shoot a documentary and music video for the band. This is going to be a huge event in Urban history. This team has experience with Nike, MTV, and fuse and we are blessed to have them shoot the show. You will not want to miss this opportunity as the team will be interviewing fans for their take on the Urban saga.”
Be there. Friday, April 25th at 11:00 p.m. at Greene Street Club in downtown Greensboro.
