AR- Why, oh God, am I homeless?

5-20-2009 Arkansas:

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of stories exploring homelessness in northwest Arkansas. The stories are written by David Lanier, a former sports editor of The Benton County Daily Record, who has been homeless for the better part of the past five years.

Why, oh God, am I homeless?

That invocation of spiritual guidance and job-like prayerful communion with God's purpose for one's destitution aided me in my self-enlightenment.

Because of my dire straits in the past few years, I've experienced homelessness from a personal viewpoint.

Many old and new acquaintances were inexplicably querulous about how a college-educated journalist with such a vast vocabulary could be homeless and not happy careerwise.

So many pleaded with me to pursue my writing career again. Dr. Jim Arkins and Steve Gunter mentored me with friendly, genuine approbation.

Hark, the herald angels sang to me in 2007: I had three guardian angels: Arkins, Gunter and Kent Marts, who inspired me to re-enter the idyllic paradise of penmanship.

When you're down and almost out, filled with self-doubts, don't despair.

"Optimism is a form of courage."

Why, oh God, am I homeless?

An epiphany occurred. I realized this was meant to be. Only a writer can truly enlighten about homelessness.

Afforded this golden opportunity to explore pauperism in all its realms, I've slept in fields, back seats of cars, a couch outside a church, occasionally a motel room.

I slept through the tornado that slambammed Bentonville in the back seat of a car parked near Southeast Walton Boulevard.

And, not to be outdone, I attempted to doze through the remnants of Hurricane Ike comfortably snuggled inside a Coleman sleeping bag in the confines of the woods between Sunbridge Avenue and Township Avenue in Fayetteville. Alas, the moisture saturated my comfort zone. So I traipsed to the College Avenue Baptist Church at 2 a.m. Along the way, Mother Nature swooshed me into the raging floodwaters of Scull Creek. I frantically dogpaddled for my life. Miraculously, a God-given fence saved my life. As I grasped the fence and yanked myself up to safety, I silently prayed for guidance in the future. Plus, I planned to pay more attention to the weather forecast.

Many of my friends from the past provided guideposts of perseverance with their helpful encouraging pearls of wisdom.

I've also received providential blessings from Christians who've divinely aided me in my quest for that illusive raison d'etre.

Why, oh God, am I homeless?

Hopefully some of the stereotypical misinformation about homeless people can be dispelled in these glimpses of real life.

Not every homeless person is a lazy, goodfor-nothing drunk who has no desire to work.

Yes, a few indigents fit that category, but until you've slept outside in the frigidity of February's shiverness or almost drowned trying to seek safety from a storm, don't preach to me about being a ne'er-do-well bum.

Maybe I deserved to be jobless, homeless and frustrated.

Why, oh God, am I homeless? Patiently persevering these adversities taught me the most important credos of survival. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can't change; "The tranquillity to strive to achieve peace on my little piece of this earth; "The altruistic love to give unselfishly of myself and my pittance of possessions to provide help to my fellow man; "And the wisdom to make intelligent decisions." That's the STRAW - serenity, tranquillity, altruistic love and wisdom - that stirs my dream of conquering life's challenges.

Every moment of every day, whenever a new challenge interrupts my original goal of succeeding, I pray that adaptation of the Serenity Prayer. I do believe God is using me to enlighten those who desire to help the homeless. A newfound friend of mine, Frank Sears, and I now say, "Pass it on," whenever someone helps us or we help someone else; in other words, help someone else out, which returns the favor of someone helping you. One night I witnessed a forlorn homeless man who took off his shirt in an establishment on Dickson Street in Fayetteville. The proprietors bullishly informed him to put on his shirt or hit the road. I grabbed a sweatshirt, which a kind-hearted lady donated to me earlier that day. With altruistic resolve, I boldly approached him and told him, "Look, dude, I'm homeless and I care about you.

Please put this sweatshirt on and behave yourself." He tearfully kissed my hand and thanked me. For caring. His buddy joyfully hugged me. Why, oh God, am I homeless? That's how you help homeless people. Just by caring and sharing, you can change their world. Even if it's just a gift card to McDonald's; that kindly gesture touches penniless paupers in a unique way that signifies sincere Christian love. Whenever I'm faced with a dilemma, to give or not to give, I ask myself, "What would Maurice Lanier do?" My saint of a Methodist minister father taught me the Golden Rule during his Christlike life - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Indeed, pass it on! ..News Source.. by David Lanier Special To The Daily Record