Setting Prisoners Free

I have always struggled with anxiety. I am an anxious person! I worry a lot! Let me give you a little history about myself. As long as I can remember, anxiety, worry and fear have been a part of my life. As a kid, I was that nervous shy kid that seemed afraid of everything. I'd go "red as a beetroot" whenever someone would talk to me. Anxiety crippled me in many ways. I wouldn't talk in public, I was afraid to talk on the phone, school and church were incredibly hard and I'd often feel afraid in whatever circumstance I'd find myself. My anxiety and worry was so crippling, that as a result, I missed out on doing a lot of things I wanted to do.  I was brought up in a Christian family, I went to Sunday School every week and I also attended a lot of church camps as a youngster. One of the requirements was, we had to learn bible verses, and one of very first ones I ever memorized was about "not being anxious", it's Philippians ...

We are quickly approaching another Chitown winter..... A little less than a year ago, we struggled through another harsh and brutal Chicago winter, and through it, I was (once again) reminded how "life and death" rests in my feeble and incapable hands. This season is difficult, I always feel inept, as the needs are constantly there and are often life threatening. This daunting reality is very real and the weight is extremely heavy.... As I write this, I have a few friends who weigh heavily on my heart and in my mind. I know of 4 men who lost toes last winter, due to frostbite! I know plenty of others who got frostbitten; they had blackened skin and were on the brink of losing digits, but were thankfully rescued before it got too bad and deep. I want to highlight one of these guys: He was homeless, sleeping in the parks and under the viaducts of both Uptown and Edgewater. He told me about one frigidly cold November night; he was sleeping on a park bench and som...

I work in a place that gives people experiencing homelessness chances to step up and take the opportunities we have to offer. Whether it's employment, housing, sobriety or volunteering, I find it a privilege and an honor! I love being able to offer people these opportunities. I also love watching people grab the "bull by the horns" and go with it. I love seeing God transform someone who's been in prison, someone who's addicted, gang-banging or whatever their vice may be, and watch them change and move forward. I love watching people grab the opportunities and sober up, find housing and get jobs!  I love seeing all that, but unfortunately, there's something that often goes with it! Something I hate! Something that drives me crazy. Too often there are people, (or as the person asking question puts it), there are snakes in the grass spreading rumors, gossiping and trying to bring these people down. Unfortunately, it's so...

I want to tell you about a friend of mine; we'll call him James! He was homeless. He'd been homeless a long time! He slept in places like behind the CVS down the street, in the park or under the Wilson viaduct. It didn't matter if it was the dead of winter or in the height of the summer heat; James could be found sleeping outside, normally somewhere around here in Uptown.  After years of being "out there", the streets and the weather started to hit him hard. He looked terrible! He was very confused. A few of his buddies stayed at the shelter, they were worried about him and tried talking him into coming inside, but for some reason, he'd always resist. Outreach workers also tried to engage him, but he'd always say "no" to us as well!  After years of suffering, he got "tired of being tired", he knew he needed help and an answer, so finally he came into CCO.  Coming ...

Today, I walked into the office and saw one of our caseworkers sitting with and assisting 2 elderly gentlemen experiencing homelessness. Their combined ages are a staggering 160 years. One is a Korean War veteran who's 83 and the other guy is a hardworking 77 year old. Such an image causes me grief, yet at the same time, this images makes me smile!  I grieve, because no senior citizen should ever have to be homeless, especially in a nation that has so much affluence. I smile, because I watch and see how these 2 are compassionately getting their needs met. I grieve, because these guys are just 2 of far too many men and women over 60 walking into our place, homeless and seeking assistance. I smile, because I know these 2 fellas are in capable hands and the work being done today will eventually lead to them proudly holding up keys to a new apartment. I grieve, because of society's injustice, neglect and cruelty to the "least of these". I smile, because ...

I want to tell you about 2 friends; they run in different circles and have nothing to do with each other, but my heart aches for both of them!  For decades, one of them has struggled with heroin and popping pills , while the other has struggled to stay out of the Joint for very long. Even though they run in very different circles, and one of them is a lot more violent than the other, they are united in the same struggle . They struggle to stay on the narrow path. They struggle to stand firm in their faith.   I know both these guys, I know they were both trying. They were staying on the path, trusting God and making the right decisions. The first guy had been resisting the needle and other narcotics for a short while, while the second guy had stayed out of prison for about 4 or 5 years; which for him was a major accomplishment. They were both telling me how excited they were about their progress! They were both thankful to God and would constantly talk to m...

I wandered into the guys office and was met by a grey-haired elderly gentleman. Even though he's not staying with us at the moment, I believe he's still homeless and had resided with us before. He'd come to pick up his mail.   This scenario isn't unusual, but today, I was struck by the power of not feeling forgotten. I was struck by the importance of being remembered! I was struck by the need to feel loved!  This elderly man was crying. He wasn't sad, he was crying with happiness. Tears were rolling down his street-worn cheeks, he was grinning ear to ear, and he kept on shaking our hands and saying "thank you, thank you, I love you guys, you make me feel special!" What did we do? We just handed him a birthday card and a wrapped gift that was made especially for him. He opened it before us, and a floodgate of emotions opened as well. He told us how depressed and rejected he felt that morning, and how this gift changed his whole demeanor and had resurrected ...