when i was tired you allowed me to rest. when i was exhausted you allowed me to sleep. when i needed shelter in the initial time of becoming homeless you allowed me to find safety and relative security in your house. when i was hungry and unaware of any other option, you fed me. you did this and expected nothing in return, with no questions asked and only anticipated my respecting your building and the people who were employed there. thank you sunday breakfast mission for being there when i needed you.
to the first homeless people i encountered here, thank you for relieving my anxieties about this city and the homeless population in general. you gave me information i needed and directed me to the organizations that could help and provide the information and services i could utilize. you showed me an understanding that only you could show me because you were experiencing the same problems that i was. thank you also for enforcing some things that i already knew but perhaps had forgotten...that even under the most difficult of circumstances people are compassionate and willing to help. you showed me that often it is the people who have the least to give that are willing to give the most. thank you also for renewing my faith in man and the human spirit.
thank you to the friendship house for everything that you did. you clothed me when i had nothing. you allowed me to stay warm when i would have been in the cold. every time i walked in the snow this winter....in a pair of boots that were warm and kept my feet dry....i thought of you. thank you to the employees of friendship house for being there every morning at 5:30 am with coffee brewing and a warm place to stay until others were available. you provided an invaluable resource, not only materially, but psychologically in the fact that you cared about and provided for not only me but all the homeless here in wilmington with true compassion, understanding and goodness. you are an example of what every church and religious organization should be and portray on a daily basis the true meaning of the christian spirit of helping those in a less fortunate circumstance.
to wilmington hospital ..thank you. i'm not sure if your staff knew i was homeless, but during my health issue you showed nothing but professionalism and gave me the best of possible services and treatment. there was never a hint of lack of wanting to do anything but provide for my medical needs. you showed patience and concern for my well being.
for all the people i've encountered along the way here, thank you for being such a caring city. it's unusual to find such compassion, understanding and caring on a such a large scale. you try to treat the homeless of wilmington with respect and value them as people and particularly as individuals. the churches here exemplify what it means to serve others and help their fellow man with no expectations other than the benefit they receive from that caring and service.
thank you to the ones that read this blog for your patience with my tendency to ramble. thank you to the people on twitter for tolerating my rants concerning homelessness and poverty and allowing me to express my opinions and thoughts without being critical or condescending.
thank you ...all of you. there are many more...but i couldn't possibly fit them all in this blog. i hope everyone experiences the giving and caring and compassion that i have if they find themselves in a situation as difficult as being homeless can be. hopefully i can pass some of that along and contribute to helping and fighting homelessness. you have my humble gratitude.
see you around town