Here we go!

So here it is...my new blog. I figured, for as many as I read, I should contribute, because just maybe, there will be someone out there who's interested. We'll see what happens. It could very well end up being a passing interest that goes away quickly.

In honor of the first day of spring, I thought I'd share part of an email I sent to a good friend recently. For those who don't know, I am a case manager for a transitional housing program. Basically we provide free housing for up to two years for single women (with and without children) who are homeless and help them obtain employment, education, etc. in order to achieve permanent housing and other skills for self-sufficiency. It's an awesome job. It's almost been a year and while there are challenges, it's a perfect, God-ordained fit for me right now.

However, because I'm half the age of most of my clients, that can pose problems. And for some of them, the simple fact that I'm white is an issue. Howie said that, considering the nature of my clientele, I can't expect them to trust me in the few short months they've been here, when they've had a lifetime of living in survival mode. That's such a true statement. Especially since they've spent more years than I've been alive, cultivating a personality, behaviors, and skills, which more often than not includes lying, manipulation, and distrust. It just makes sense, but it's not okay, not really, in the grand scheme of things for me to get as bothered as I do by this, or for them to be so rude. But it's so like the seeds God talks about planting. I can plant seeds of success and hope, generosity and kindness to these women all day, every day during their two years here, but in the end, I may not ever see the changes. And that's okay. It just made me think about the people you meet anywhere you go. It takes time to build relationships and make changes. It takes time to plant seeds and for those seeds to grow. Maybe one day I'll get to see more fruit, but for now, I'm learning to be content with passing along the resources I have, and celebrating the milestones. Just this week two clients got jobs, two kids in the program celebrated birthdays in a HOUSE, not a shelter, and clients are working on their education. Here's to hoping you are able to see the joy in your life amidst planting seeds.