Good Will Hunting Not Realistic?

Every Wednesday I help out at Joshua Station's (transitional housing center) youth group for the high school residents. Last night we watched Good Will Hunting and after the movie was over, the leader, Ben, asked everybody what they thought. Karen, a more reserved, incredibly sweet 17 year old hispanic girl replied "I dunno.. it just didn't seem real." Ben, being a little confused turned to her and asked "Why do you say that?" And very quickly, and said as if we should've known, Karen snapped back, "Because he was white!!" ... it was hilarious. That is all.

The Value of a Man's Dignity

I was asked the other day what I've learned the most in past month and this is the compile of memories that immediately came to mind...

Jeff Johnson is the Executive Director of Mile High Ministries which is essentially the overall umbrella ministry for which we are all working. He teaches one of our classes every Monday which essentially can only be described as a streets smart class with a strong emphasis on the biblical perspective of urban poverty and city life. Two weeks ago something in particular stuck with me in his class and has had a profound impact on the way I see and interact with the poor. We discussed our train of thought when we encounter the homeless and specifically pan-handlers our usual tendencies when crossing the path of the poor.

Example: You're walking down the street and cross the path of a man. He embodies the word "filthy" - even makes my usual shower habits appear as healthy. Hair in dreads, body untastefully tattooed, clothes not exactly made for Nordstrums Spring Catalogue, and as your pase quickens to pass by him as quickly as possible his mouth speratically utters a few words that shake off a few of the many dirt crums stuck in his unkempt beard. What I usually tend to do is pretend to stare off into space and pretend to have no knowledge of his existence except for maybe that one moment when your gaze meets his and you are forced to awkwardly extend a semi-cordial nod his way while purposefully ignoring the reality that he has something to say to you. Whether or not you can understand him is irrelevent because either way he is unheard. Either way an assumption is made of who he is, what he wants, and especially what he needs. I assume that I know what is necessary for this man to "succeed;" for him to "make something of himself." And thus my pre conceived bias drives me to no longer treat him as a man with value, but someone who is lacking what I THINK might be missing in his life.

Here is the moral of the story: When you listen to this man, when you take the time to connect and try to get on his level for 10 minues, and when you give him the chance to TELL YOU what he needs and what he really wants, you give him back his dignity and respect as a human being who has the ability to decide for himself what he needs. It's those little things that allow one to build a genuine relationship with this man - one from which both him and yourself can grow as equal human beings together.

Whoa Whoa Whoa Slow This Down!

For many of you that title brings up very significantly specific and memorable events in your life along with the never ending joy that comes from hearing those words being spoken from the mouth of Mr. Busboom and sung from the pipes of that "American Jr." we all know and love - Grace Leer. Tonight those words are SCREAMING from my head back to the never ceasing class 6 river rapids that have been my past two weeks of living here in Denver. My life these days seems to only consist of either monumental experiences/relationships redefining or building the way I view myself, the poor, and just about everyone with whom I come in contact; or it's a crazy adventure that explodes my love for the blessed state of Colorado! Over the next couple days I will be posting more blog entries on various topics I have been facing and crazy awesome events that have taken place. I will essentially be "slowing down" a little bit and allow you to take a closer look into my experiences and in doing so allow myself to restore a little bit of sanity and process what has been stirring in my head over these past few weeks. Right now I will leave you with this - I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Gotta wake up early for staff meeting so good-night all!