Number 44 has a name…
July 26, 2009
Friday night my wife and I had a chance hang out with the crowd at the “Stand Up and Be Counted” event. The night was all about reminding us that every night over a thousand people (almost half of them children) don’t have a place to call home in NW Arkansas. To help the reality hit home, we all were given a number to represent one of the 1,287 homeless. The Mayor was there, the media was there, Mark Horvath (founder of Invisible People.tv, and a guy who has been homeless himself) was there, the wonderful organizations that serve the homeless each day where there, and Jack was there… just checking things out.
I met Jack later that night as we set up camp (many of us stayed the night on the Old Main lawn). Jack is a great guy with an engaging smile. Like you and I he’s experienced his share of life. He’s known love and lost love. He’s tasted hope and felt hopeless. He’s tried, failed, and tried again. Jack was one of the 1,287… the real 1,287. Just like Friday night, tonight Jack will try find a safe place to sleep… outside. This weekend Jack will depend on someone’s kindness for food. Monday morning Jack will join the millions of Americans who are trying to find work in a tough economy.
Sitting at an event hearing about the “issue of homelessness” will awaken your mind… sitting near a bench hearing someone’s heart will awaken your soul. I’m starting to think that the most difficult thing about being homeless may not be “being invisible” (the reality is we’ve all seen and looked away), but rather not being heard. A lot of us may have seen, but many of us (including me) rarely if ever interrupt our lives to listen. Listening takes time, it takes compassion, and it takes you off the hook of ignorance.
Friday evening someone handed me a sheet with the number 44… later that night Jack gave number 44 a name. I don’t want to forget Jack, and I know how easily I will. I might remember his name for a while but unless I find a way to make Jack part of my life, he’ll return to being just a number in my mind.
-Mark
July 27, 2009 at 2:02 pm
wow…hard to wrap my mind around last statement
“I might remember his name for a while but unless I find a way to make Jack part of my life, he’ll return to just a number in my mind.”
Those are powerful words and puts the ownership on us to be the change and take the initiative.
This is as much about us and it is about “them.”
…powerful, uncomfortable, real, authentic and very very hard. There are a thousand “Jack” stories out there, but there is only one Jack.
July 27, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Some good news – Mark Horvath donated a brand new tent and sleeping bag to give to Jack.