Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Keeping things in perspective

I blubbered tonight. Stress overload.

So, I listened to my friend (figuratively, since he's crooned me thru many a hard day - in reality I wish I could claim him) Mr. Jack Johnson's With My Own Two Hands (actually on this one, the other friend, Ben Harper accompanies him) as I soaked in a candlelit, exquisitely hot bath. Forget catharsis, get water hot enough and it will cure whatever ails you.


I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make it a better place
With my own two hands
Make it a kinder place
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth
With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth
With my own two hands
I can reach out to you
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it brighter place
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a safer place
With my own two hands
I'm going to help the human race
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can hold you
With my own two hands
I can comfort you
With my own two hands
But you've got to use
Use your own two hands
Use your own
Use your own two hands
With our own
With our own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands



Oh yeah....s'pose there's a lot of truth in there. Namely, that while it may not be the magnitude I hope for, a difference can and will be made so long as I keep on keepin' on, regardless of whether others join me or not.

Then there's the reality of the less-vocal majority of the people I am dealing with.
They are on board.
They are excited.
They are assuring, and they are giving me glowing feedback.

Why is it that the vocal minority overshadows this so often? Well, err, I guess I don't really need to know the why of that, so much as I need to make the choice to see them for what they are: a very small piece of the public pie. And remember the cliche'; you can please some people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time - but never all of the people all of the time.

Then I remembered the woman who called yesterday....
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Is this the woman doing the homeless count?

Yes ma'am that is me, what questions might you have that I can speak to?

Well, technically, my son and I are homeless. We're staying with a friend, but we're near the end of that rope.

I'm really sorry to hear that, if you saw the article in the Coloradoan last week, you know that I understand. What can I do that would be of assistance to you?

Well, I had a job for over 20 years, and was laid off without a severance package. I have no computer skills - though am taking classes starting next week, but a job has been hard to find. Anyhow, I really want to answer the survey and to put our situation on the table so to speak. Where and when will they be offered?

I nearly cried. If you ask, they will answer, was the version of the Field of Dreams mantra I was hearing.

You are very brave, and I'm very thankful for your call. It's being able to put numbers to stories like yours that will make a difference.

I then relayed the information for where she needed to go on Tuesday the 29th.

Never in a million years had I expected that call. Never in a million years will I forget it, even amidst public criticism.

Shortly after that call was one from a Larimer County Sheriff Deputy Officer.....

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He reported being a Christian, and having felt the call to participate.
He committed to volunteering as a plain-clothes, though equipped as is mandatory, officer, and has offered a safety briefing for all the outreach team leaders just prior to the count.
He will have his patrol car, so that if one of our team leaders has the beginnings of a problem, he can leave to assist at a phone call's notice - and he has jurisdiction county-wide as a sheriff.

A Godsend, for sure.

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Lord, help me remember your touch and blessing on this project.
Help me stay the course, cheerfully and persistently.
Rain down volunteers.
Keep my uneasy mind in a state of peace, for You are my assurance.
Father, be with those who are critical - stirring their hearts so that they may see the true matters at hand, and let go of the trivial points. Quiet them on the unnecessaries.
Father, stir the hearts of business owners to be generous, for I so would love to be able to give our respondents something in return for them entrusting us with their personal information.
Father, these are your precious children.
Help me to show them Your Face.
You've blessed me so much, my dear Abba.
And I just want to share the wealth of the faith You've given me to a community of hurting people.
Let this project be a quiet and loving testimony to that desire.

In Jesus' name....
So be it

G'night, Daddy. I promise I'll sleep good :)

2 comments:

  1. Hugs to you Girl...the count will be here and gone before you know it. Hang in there!

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  2. That is soooo freakin awesome!!! I have tears in my eyes about to roll down my thinning cheaks! WOW!!!

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