Trick Or Treat

This evening, all across the nation, children of all ages will be going door to door Trick or Treating. Most of them will be dressed in costumes of all types. There will be candy being given away by the handful. There will be laughter.

I’m not sure how the whole Trick or Treat tradition started, particularly since Halloween was originally referred to as "All Hallows Eve" – the day before the Feast of All Saints’ Day. All of that aside, it’s become a day of jack-o-lanterns, ghouls, goblins, witches flying on brooms, ghosts, candy corn, and costume parties for adults. Everyone seems to be having fun.  

My Five Hundreth

Geez. I can hardly believe it. This is my 500th post.

When I first began authoring this blog I did it because I needed an outlet for the frustrations that were building up within me at how the homeless in my community were being treated. Sadly, the homeless are still generally being viewed and treated in much the same way as they were back then. They are still being viewed by so many in the mainstream community as more of a public nuisance instead of as people who need a helping hand.  

Forgotten Warriors

Yesterday I stopped to speak with a homeless gentleman I know. He’s been homelessness now for about 4 years. Like so many other homeless, he ends up "sleeping rough" – meaning that he sleeps out of doors – quite often. Sleeping rough isn’t his first choice however. I’m sure he’d prefer to have a roof over his head. But, there simply aren’t enough beds at the local shelter to accommodate everyone. Subsequently folks get turned away.  

Candidates For Homelessness

Homelessness is no respecter of persons. As a result, I’ve developed a strong belief that anyone can experience homeless. And, while it is my personal belief, it’s a belief which I’ve seen validated time and time again over the last year of so. As such, I tend to shake my head inwardly whenever I think about the way the homeless are treated by so many in the mainstream community.  

Getting A Clear Focus

Over the nearly nineteen months that I’ve been authoring this blog, I’ve received quite a number of e-mails. And I’ve received them from all over. Some praise what I’ve written. Some attempt to show me the error of my ways. And some are just down right mean spirited. Two in particular caught my eye yesterday.