Homeless Persons' Memorial Day poster -- 2007

Just want to direct people’s attention to the fact that, as this is officially the first day of winter, it is also the longest night of the year. For those who find themselves homeless, it will be an especially long night.

Heightened awareness to a problem such as homelessness brings with it an inevitable sadness, but hopefully, also, a newfound resolve to never again turn away. Considering just how many veterans find themselves homeless in the U.S. on any given night — up to 250,000 is a common estimate — I’ve decided for myself that my commitment to veterans issues, as well as to the basic tenets of human rights, must include a commitment to finding a solution to homelessness among veterans. But the homeless are not only veterans; they’re people from all walks of life.

They are people — men, women, many children, entire families, the mentally ill, and those who by some fickle stroke of chance have found themselves without a roof over their heads.

And for me personally, there is also this:

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ … Matthew 25:37-40 [NAB]

I’m trying to remember that more in my life. Despite a few setbacks and my own Life Stuff (things everyone has to go through in their own way), I have had a blessed life. I’d like for Jack to see that we share a responsibility, as members of the human family – let alone as part of our true calling as Christians – to get involved and to not turn away. We can’t help everyone, but we can do what we can do, and try to affect those few with whom we do come into contact. The danger of feeling overwhelmed by all of society’s ills is that one ends up actually doing nothing. I want to do something, however small.

Mom taught me better than to retreat into a bubble of coziness and comfort and to turn a blind eye. In some small way, by getting off of my bum and peeking out from behind the myopia of my own Life Stuff, I will be honoring her as well.

Aside from ‘O, Come All Ye Faithful’, this became my mom’s favorite carol for the season. We enjoyed listening to it together, many times, so I’d like to share it here as well.

Ways to get involved in the fight against homelessness in the Puget Sound area:

And finally, for veterans – homeless, or not:

  • University of Washington Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress — Funded through 2008 with a grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), this UW Dept. of Psychology unit offers potential clients screening and, if accepted, no-cost treatment for PTSD and other traumatic stress disorders. They are currently enrolling participants.