Did you eat out last week?
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Amerigo's Italian restaurant - The Patterson House - Monell's Dining? Or perhaps Shoneys - Capt. D's - Cracker Barrel… Who did you take - your sig-other - your family - a friend? and… How much did you spend? Over a $100… $50… $35… This isn't another post about giving money to your local homeless charity… but more of a challenge , HERE IT IS Go pick up a homeless person and take them to a nice restaurant. It will be a meal you will not forget. I did just that, last night. Now granted, I work with the homeless community so I may have an advantage - but taking a Street Person to a restaurant will not only bring joy and normalcy into their life - even if only a few hours - but it will bring incredible joy into your life. I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive entering the place - and considered that possibility that I might get kicked out and banned for life… I decided to go to a restaurant that had an outside patio. Whats more I introduce my street person as a celebrity and the waitress immediately took the bait and seemed pleased to be serving a famous person. After all, my street person has been interviewed on TV with a reporter on a story about the plight of the homeless - He also was featured in a documentary on homelessness. So I wasn't really telling a lie… And… if nothing else… he IS a legend in his own mind… We didn't get asked to leave. What I found to be fantastic, was to see this person sit back and relax, enjoying in the beautiful people sitting around us… and taking a step out of the dirt into the real world. He has been on the streets for 15 years and never been to this popular area with Posh Restaurants. He asked me if this is what it felt like to hang with me… "Yep" I said "I like to come here and just chill" He told me that he liked hanging out in my world… We talked about the possibility of his leaving his reality and joining "our" reality. … and he told me that he wanted to. I asked candid questions about his sobriety and how that will affect his success in transitioning back to a life with his family and teenage children. He really wants that life again. He knows what he has to do… and … He knows that The Project Nashville will be there for him along the way. We talked about his life and his dreams and I encouraged him to keep shooting for the stars. and in a way that I can't really explain… we bonded as brothers. Brothers in this hard world of pain and suffering and homelessness… and Hope… The waitress brought the ticket and I spent the same amount that I would have with my wife at Sunday Lunch… It wasn't much in the scope of life - and I suspect that we will do this again … soon. I smiled the whole way home. and I know it will put a smile on your face if you take this challenge. . Do IT! You will not regret it.
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JR DaviswalTActivists for homeless - inmates and the poor of this world.
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