I like to write something that can hopefully impact the world, maybe even make a change.  Something that will put your focus in a new direction.  This story came to me after reading the reports about record high temperature, and all the crisis going on in the world today.  This is just a story, right? Or is it?“Hey are you not afraid? With everything that’s going on in the world today? You’ve got to have concerns just like the rest of us.” She said leaning in close so no one else could hear. Marlene spoke with concern in her voice, you could hear the passion as she spoke in almost shush tones. There was a certain point when her voice went up a little then back to shush tone. Then Lionel answered her, “No, not at all.” Marlene was a good person, a nice girl, someone Lionel enjoyed hanging out with. But their values and beliefs systems were not on the same page. Even though Lionel enjoyed Marlene’s company he could not help but to worry about her. What would happen to Marlene if life turned upside down, any more than it was? Marlene was already worried and edgy because of things happening in the world today. But Lionel was not, he remain calm. It’s was as if he knew the outcome, peace even in the midst of trials. Lionel wasn’t worried about the stock market, the economy, if he would have a job tomorrow, or terrorist coming and blowing up the church he attended. Lionel had a peaceful countenance, he was a rock.Lionel knew that Marlene was worried about everything. Marlene was a good person she didn’t goof off at work or take long lunches. She didn’t tell dirty jokes or use profanity. She would never cheat on her taxes or mistreat anyone. She wasn’t one of those people out for herself. She didn’t value money above all else, she was a kind hearted person. But Lionel couldn’t help but to wonder about her eternal salvation. He was trying to bring her to church with him. And just when Lionel began to make some headway about going to church. Then people started bombing churches and coming in shooting. Marlene then backed away, and who could blame her. Marlene was a good person living in a fallen world. Lionel was glad she kept her friendship with him. Maybe he could help her find her courage, at least to come to church. But Marlene had listened to too many reports about Preachers who fool around with their congregation. She wasn’t interested in hearing what they had to say. Lionel tried to tell her that not every Pastor behaved that way. But the Media makes things seem worse, especially when it involves a religious leader. Marlene had become addicted to listening to the news, all their bad reports. And so, by now she was terrified to even go outside. And so, Lionel remained her friend, hoping that one day she would have enough courage and faith to hear him out. Marlene had friends who said they could help her they had the answers, the cure. They said, “ If you drink enough or swallow enough pills then the world isn’t a scary place.” But Lionel said “what a way to live, so out of it that you don’t know what’s going on.” Lionel wanted to make sure before Marlene decided who to listen to, he would help her.Marlene stood on her front porch in the dark waiting for Lionel. Because of low temperatures and snow, her power lines were down. But Lionel was on his way with a flash light and some candles. When Lionel got there Marlene was outside on the small porch of her apartment building. She was wearing her a big navy wool long coat and black riding boots. Marlene smiled as she saw Lionel heading up the sidewalk, as he got closer she said, “I don’t know how long this might last, people say it could go on for weeks.” Lionel took this moment to talk to Marlene, he spoke with compassion, “there will always be bad reports about everything. That’s what the enemy uses to hold you back, keep you down. If you’re afraid to go to church because of what some people are doing then you are backing away from God. God can protect you even from the bombing. Not every church gets bombed you do know.” Marlene shook her head but very slowly as if not truly believing what Lionel had said. She allowed the reports to fill her with so much fear it was a wonder she even went outside to go to work. She did however, stop going to the park for lunch, fear was taking over her life. Marlene took into account all the things that Lionel said, but he could see she wasn’t buying into it. The Media had done their job well, they splatter over the TV, Internet, and anywhere else about all the chaos in the world. And people began to live in fear of everything, going to parks, schools, games, concerts, churches, grocery stores, even driving down the highway. People were already scared to live life. Talk about living out loud no one does that anymore, things have shifted so bad and so quickly, that people just don’t realize they are losing the ability to truly live and be happy. The United States was the only place where you were free. Lionel knew few people who felt like they were truly free anymore. People had been locked in the worst prison there were, in their minds. And yet Jesus came to release the people out of their prison, but they chose to listen to the world instead of a loving Father."How can you know the way to go?" she asked with caution in her voice. "The LORD lights my way, he lights all our ways." Lionel spoke his words with confidence and conviction. Marlene then asked, "does he guide me too? If so why can't I tell?” Lionel turned back to face her, as he looked deep into her brown eyes he said, "it's a light inside you. And yes he lights your way, too. People just don't always listen to him. You can't recognize his voice because we have allowed the world to cancel him out. But if we pray, read and study His word in the Bible. He comes and lives inside of us, and He lights our way." Marlene was trying to understand what Lionel had just spoken, he saw the confusion on her face. "It's not a voice you hear with your ears,” Lionel pointed to his ear, “ but deep down inside your spirit. He's guiding us right now. He guided you to me, didn't he? So yes, even you can hear that still small voice."And then there came a small flicker in her eyes, and Lionel smiled, she was finally hearing him. Marlene was beginning to understand, she so desired to have the kind of peace that Lionel had and now Marlene was on the journey to understand. It’s just a story, it’s not real right? There are no snow storms or record high temperatures. There is no Media talking about terrorist, or churches that are being bombed. It’s safe to walk down your street and sit on your front porch. No one carrying guns or shooting at people in the church. Children are safe to play in their yards without dodging bullets. It’s safe for children to ride the school buses. No one is coming into schools with guns, it’s all just a story fiction right? Just something made up for a Hollywood movie, it’s not real right? Right?

This short story was the beginning for me, an introduction to a whole new me.  Away from bad relationship and into the light.She had been alone never trusting always wishing.  She'd come across too many people, she led with her heart and receive betrayal.  Who could she trust now?  Who would return her love and her trust?  And not violate it mercifully?  So she shut out the world and began traveling alone.  No one gets hurt if you don't open yourself up.  But then life can be lonely, oh so lonely.  Then there was a knock at the door she refused to open up at first, but the knock persisted.  Somehow she knew the knock would keep coming until she open up.So she open up the door and he came in, he told her she didn't have to live this way.  That he loved her and so would another.  That if she would put her trust in him he would never leave her nor forsake her. But she thought to herself, 'how can anyone be that kind?'  She had never known that kind of love. People had long since destroyed any trust, no one was trustworthy anymore.But he was somehow different, his persistence was touching, giving her a peace she had never known. He spoke of things that only she knew about, stuff she would never divulge to anyone.   He knew all about her and still promised to be there for her in spite of her past. The things he said brought tears to her eyes, she felt amending of her heart like she'd never felt before.  Those old wounds were beginning to heal and there was now light where darkness and hopelessness had been.  And so she invited him to have supper with her, and he accepted.  And that was the beginning of a new life a new direction.  It all began with a knock at the door.  

My story is about how the homeless people are being treated unfairly.  A Security Officer shows kindness to a young man living on the streets.   He heard every word she said but he didn't respond, very few people ever talked to me. Living on the streets you learn to do whatever it takes and for him, it was not speaking to people. He started to move slowly, so as not to wouldn’t spook her. That was a lesson he learned from the streets. When you move too fast people assume you’re going to attack them or rob them. But people had nothing that he wanted, he just wanted to be left alone. And since he didn’t speak most people regarded him as being retarded just plain garbage. His name was Michael and he slept on the street because he was homeless. Most people never get close enough near him, and that was ok with for him. Michael continued to stir and she just stood there, waiting. She looked like someone's mother. She didn't speak to him out of fear as some did, but with concern and compassion. She was a security guard, he knew that from the dark brown patch on the sleeve of her light brown uniform shirt.Her eyes were dark brown, they had so much love and concern in them. She looked mature and carried herself with confidence. Her voice was softly filled with compassion. It was as if she only wanted him to be safe, not just gone out of her sight. Life was funny here it was early Tuesday morning, and Michael was lying on the hard-cold concrete floor, at the drive-thru bank. People wanted him gone, just to move on out of the way. But she was different, she had a concern for his safety. Michael thought she was someone's mother. A cold wind blew his way, the wind-raked over his dark brown wavy hair. That let Michael knew it was time to move on down the road. He began gathering up my stuff, an old dark green army blanket he used for cover. A black backpack he used to store a few of his belongings in. Michael also used his backpack as a pillar to rest my head on. Michael stood straight up and bent back a little to stretch out the kinks out of his back. She took a step backward to give him room to maneuver, her foot almost missed the curb. She quickly caught herself before she fell. Michael was thinking to myself, 'if she falls and hurts herself they will blame me.' Most of all he didn't want her to get hurt, she was after all someone mother. After he finished stretching, Michael slung his backpack over his shoulder and slowly began walking up the street. Leaving behind any traces of her, but he still thought, 'she must be someone’s mother.' Halfway up the street, Michael heard someone calling him, asking the question most people asked, ‘Do you have somewhere to go?’ He immediately turns around and saw her eyes, her deep brown eyes. Michael looks at her waiting, for something? Slowly he turns and began walking back up the street. Before Michael was out of earshot she calls out, "you know you can go to the Salvation Army." Like most homeless people living on the streets, Michael had been to every shelter in the city. And truth be told it's safer on the streets. So he just kept walking until he got to the corner of Market Street, the main downtown street. Michael was heading for Miller Park, another well-known place for people like him. But his thoughts remain on her, 'she must be somebody's mom.'As Michael continued on his way he thought about her waking me up, anyone else would have been a jerk about it. Because most people viewed the homeless as a nuisance and garbage. Michael took a quick glance backward and all he could see was a shadowy figure in the darkness. He figures she was on her way, checking the door for the downtown area. "Oh no," a thought occurred to him, 'Scott, she was going to run into Scott. ' Scott was not welcome among the homeless, he was just too crazy. Scott had problems and Scott didn't like people. The truth was Scott hated people, he blamed anyone and everyone. Scott had major anger issues. Scott blamed people for him being on the street. Something about his girlfriend who cheated on him with his best friend. And then it was the company that let him go after so many years of service. That he lost his job so he could no longer pay his mortgage. The final straw was the bank repossessed his house. And so all and all Scott blame everyone for what happened to him, his hatred of people was frightening. Scott had been thrown in jail more times than anyone could count. He considers a security guard like cops. The only good cop was a broken one, Scott would say. And every time they arrested Scott he made sure they regretted getting him, he fought like his life was on the line, Scott was messed up. Michael wondered about the nice security lady. “What if she tries to wake up Scott as she did for me?”He turned around and began to pick up my pace, he had to reach her before she tried to wake up Scott. “She’s somebody’s mother he couldn't let her wake up Scott.” Michael hurried up the main street, Scott usually slept in one of the store doorways. As he rounded the corner he saw an old grocery cart, 'it’s Scott's.' And then he saw a patrol car drive up, it had the same logo that she wore on her sleeve. The car pulled right in front of the store where the cart was, and the door swung open. She stepped out, looking over at Scott. As she stepped up on the sidewalk she reached in her holster and took out a big industrial flashlight. “Oh no Scott would assume it’s a weapon," Michael said with alarm in his voice. Michael knew that he had to act fast, his pulse began racing, and he could hear my heart beat faster. She stepped closer and bend down toward the figure sleeping, he screamed out as loud as he could,  "S T O P",,,,,