Thursday, December 23, 2010

Resurrection?


(hair courtesy of "Who-ville" day at the high school. I was one of 5 people to actually dress up. Yeah, no shame, my people!)

Holy moly! I haven't posted a blog since August. Fail. Actually, it'd be an epic fail (as the kids these days say.) It isn't that I haven't wanted to blog, I have. It's just that there's been too much to write about and not enough time to give it all justice. So, basically, you've missed a lot of garbage AND a lot of good since I didn't record it on the 'ol bloggity blog, but we'll pretend we're all on the same page and if I can remember the details later on I'll mention them... maybe.

I'm trying not to stress that my Christmas vacation is pert-near half over. Christmas Eve day tomorrow will mean I am scrambling to do all the things I have procrasti-santa'd all week. I did finally get the kids' present wrapped last night and hopefully tomorrow Christmas cards will hit the post office (only to sit there until after Christmas, right!?), but at least it'll be off my to-do list.

One of the things we had on our to-do list tonight was to clean our chapel with several other families from our ward. Now, y'all could call me a big fat liar if I told you I was super amped to go to the clean the church when I have baking to finish. Cuz, I really wasn't. I wasn't very positive and in this season of giving, I wasn't being very seasonal.


When we got to the church, we split the duties. As Tyler was taking out the trash to the outside recepticle that's enclosed in a brick fence and gate, he discovered there was a homeless man hiding out next to the trash can. Tyler was stunned a bit and the timid man kept the conversation short so Tyler'd leave. Now, if you've been in Vegas, you know we've had several days of non-stop rain and drizzle, so I'm sure this man was appreciating that the skies (at least at that point) were clear. Once Tyler got over his surprise, the man told Tyler that being in the enclosure meant he was doing better than being out in the open. I couldn't even imagine calling camping out next to a (STINKY/DIRTY!) trash can "better," but I guess perspective is important no matter what's going on in our lives, right?

Anyhow, Tyler came back to the church and nobody really knew what we should do, or how to handle the situation. Tyler went back out before we left to see if he needed anything to get through the night, to find out if he was hungry, and the man was very gentle and humble and assured Tyler he has food stamps so he wasn't hungry, and he would be okay through the night. He was wrapped in a thick comforter and Tyler surmised that he was trying to just go to sleep. Of course, by that point, I got pretty grateful that I had the opportunity to clean the church. I mean, there are places that don't have chapels to meet in each week. And I was feeling pretty spoiled with my unbaked goodies that were sitting in my house (yeah, the same goodies I was cursing since I really DO hate baking). Yeah, in my house that is warm and furnished with comfortable furniture and beds. And, of course, I was thinking about how sad and devestating homelessness is, but at Christmas? It's painful.
So, here was what was awkward about the whole thing: taking that moment to teach our kids. Because we don't know much about the random homeless man, Tyler told the kids to stay inside, which then piqued their interests. Tyler tried to explain there was homeless man out by the trash can and, I swear, you'd have thought they thought he was a zoo animal! I was a little mortified when we were leaving they wanted to go drive by to see him "living in the trash can." I mean, a live, real, human homeless man? They were all over it. To them, it's what stories are made of and they wanted to see him in the flesh . . . to do what? Stare at him? I kinda lost it on them to let them know he was just a normal man who was struggling. He didn't have a home or a bed or warm clothes to wear and that it was really, really, really sad. He was more than the "guy living in the trash can." I guess we need to teach our priviledged kids a little more perspective.
As we left the parking lot, we did what many other people who really had no clue how to make this tragic reality any better, we stopped at 7-11 and bought a hot dog and some hot chocolate to take back to him. When we returned, I asked Tyler to ask him his name. His name is Doug. I just kept thinking, this is a man with a name. I didn't want my kids calling him the "trash guy" or the "homeless man." He's someone's son/brother/maybe a father and for whatever reason, he's spending tonight sleeping in a comforter on the ground of trash enclosure. Maybe we should have done more... I dunno. Usually just dropping my change into the Salvation Army bucket suffices my "charity" to-do's for the holidays. I hope he knows we care. A hot dog and hot chocolate says that, right? I hope he knows we prayed for him by name tonight...

As we drove home, at Christmas, I thought about Michael McLean's song from "The Forgotten Carols."

Homeless, Homeless
Like the Christ child was
Homeless, Homeless
But there is hope because
He came down to earth to lead us
He vowed He'd never leave us
Homeless, Homeless
For in His love there is a home

Oh so Homeless, Homeless
Was His humble birth
He was Homeless, Homeless
And still He changed the earth
Nothing kept His heart from giving
Most of His life was living
Homeless, Homeless
He showed it's how we live,
Not where

When His homeless days on earth were done
(When His homeless days were done)
He went home to where we all came from

And He went to prepare
(He went to prepare)
A mansion for us there
(A mansion for us there)

He gave His whole life to lead us
And I know He'll never leave us
Homeless, Homeless
For in His love there is a home

(We are not Homeless, Homeless)
For in His love there is a home
(Like the Christ child was)
[repeat to end]

There is a home.






**********






On a different note.






Because I am teaching high school, and those hooligans can google like no other, I have decided it will be prudent for me to take my blog private. I don't want to presume you've been all devestated that I haven't blogged in 4 months, so if you wanna invite to my private blog party, leave a comment with your email. And then you'll have to log-on to see if I've written anything exciting... I know. Sorry for requiring effort to see my ramblings.

28 comments:

Sarah said...

Great story. Great perspective. Great song. Glad you're back. Sorry you have to go private. I hate being private, Anyway, hook me up . . . sarahmvidal@cox.net

Lindsay said...

1. I LOVE the Whoville hair, and I would been person #6 to do it, because it sounds fun!
2. That was nice what you did for Doug.
3. I definitely was wondering where your blogging had gone to, and would like to continue reading.

LMirandas04@aol.com

chris jenkins said...

Call me crazy but I think perhaps you were given a gift. The Lord works in seriously mysterious ways. He kind of gives us the stuff we need when he sort of thinks we need it.

Thanks for taking the time to share the story. It really sheds light on so much. For us who are reading too.

I know you are crazy insanely busy, but I hope that you will continue to blog in the future. Remember once you told me that you found it therapeutic?

So count me in for the private blog par-tay - cr8vchris@gmail.com

Rebecca Hunt said...

I think it's great that your kids got to be with you during this whole scenario. What a great example you just set for them for life. The older ones will remember this Christmas forever and probably use the story as an intro into some important talk in sacrament meeting someday :) Hope to see you blogging more!
becca_sweetgirl04@yahoo.com

Beth said...

Sweet story. I wonder if Doug habitates the church trash area frequently.

Troy and Nancee Tegeder said...

Sign me up for the private blog.

Tristen said...

I definitely want an invite!
ryntris11@hotmail.com
Good job on serving others!

Katelyn said...

katelyn.degraw@gmail.com

The Hulls said...

Hey there Sarah! Good story, good teaching moment. They will remember that for a long time. We are sooo blessed. Keep me in touch....ethanhull@hotmail.com

Mollie Sekikawa said...

Darn that google. I do want to cyber stalk you every now and then, so... mollieandersen@yahoo.com
AND... I'm glad you posted that story. I wouldn't have known what to do or how to handle that. thanks for the perspective.

Anonymous said...

Sarah add me to your blog
debbyc54@hotmail.com

Good story...so hard to know what the right thing to do is...you guys did great.

The Zaugg Family said...

I'd love to be able to read your blog when it goes private.

thezauggfamily@gmail.com

Thanks and Happy New Year!
Christine

ElRae said...

Add me to your blog list please. I was quite excited to discover a new post today. : )
As for Doug, I'm not sure anyone really knows what to do. You just have to respect their privacy and what dignity they have left to control their situation while still making it known that help would be available if they would want it. You probably did more than most would by going back with something warm.

Kathy said...

I love your blog! Glad you are back. I am terrible with ours!
kathybrunson@yahoo.com

Jeannie said...

Especially now that I won't see you at least once a week, I'll need in on the privateness too. :)

tjj3@cox.net

Heather said...

hi! id like to be able to still read your blog! my email is hvalentine623@aol.com

Happy New Year!

dodie said...

of course I want to be on your private blog. doraleeb@aol.com

MollyE said...

Count me in.
mollevans@hotmail.com

Heather Rice said...

I want in! Love you!
riceheather@gmail.com

Stephanie said...

I would love to continue to read your blogs! Stephanie_golomb@hotmail.com

candice said...

hey girl! glad i checked in before you went private!! i would love to stalk you from across town... :)
candicestewart@embarqmail.com

Babs said...

childsbarbara@hotmail.com.

Love the hair.

Mandi Roth said...

Great story!! so sad but what a great thing to be reminded of at Christmas time. Blessings!! I want to still read. mandiroth@gmail.com

Kathy said...

Add me to yur list, please.
slightly2@msn.com

debbyc54 said...

I want an invite...enjoy your stories! :)
debbydc54@gmail.com

Marsha said...

Just can't stop reading about you and yours! Count me in Marsha3x@gmail.com. You really help me to "stop and smell the roses", you'd think I'd have that down by now! Love you Sarah.

Jana said...

Don't forget me slaveof7@aol.com

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