Fireworks on the River

You know, I really love Savannah.  I think the weather is great here and the people are charming and the buildings and moss covered trees are gorgeous.  I feel in love with this place about 10 minutes after being here and, even though I have seen some of the uglier sides of this town, I am becoming devoted to the future of Savannah.  I always say I love Savannah, and I can't wait for her to love me back.  I want to do something to help this town live up to the promise of its better angels. 

Recently I was presented with the opportunity to apply for a position on the Savannah/Chatham Authority for the Homeless' board of directors.  I am going for the position and, Lord willing, I will get on the board.   I hope to be able to help bring real and lasting change to the plight of the Homeless in Chatham County.  The promise of this town is becoming a real, personal thing for me and I truly believe that we can all take the steps together to grow this promise in the hearts of all of the residents here in Savannah.

Savannah is a beautiful city, in parts.  We put our best foot forward for the tourists.  We show them our museums and our legendary homes and picturesque landscapes.  Heck, we even shoot off fireworks the first Friday of every month down on River Street.  And these visitors are impressed.  But what if we took the same care and pride in making sure that all the residents of Savannah felt pride in Savannah?  What a day of celebration that would be! 

I believe in the better angels of your nature Savannah, I trust that you will rise to the call and help bring about necessary change to your most forsaken citizenry.  Together we can strip away the stigma of Homelessness and begin the real, focused and yes difficult process to help everyone feel the love that Savannah gives so willingly to even the guests that come here.  Wow, that will really be a great day to set off fireworks on River Street!

Sunset Road

I explained in earlier blogs that the few things that the Homeless have become very precious to them.  But at times some of the things that the Homeless hold on to (even among the very few things we have), some of those things have to go.

We all are faced with these kinds of decisions through out our life.  A new friend of mine is getting a divorce and she is trying to figure out what she can take from the old life into her new, smaller life.   These types of changes are familiar to us all and not very much liked by any of us.  But to the Homeless having to lay down one more thing may carry the emotional heft of an amputation.  Much of that has to do with the ability to get back anything given away.  In these circumstances, one's ability to replace generally is diminished dramatically.

So old things, tired things, things that have outlived there usefulness become cherished to the Homeless.  But many times these items become albatrosses around our necks.  We have to learn to throw away the daggers at our chest.  Many times those cherished items are fuel behind our lack of necessary change and growth...i.e... Just because the dagger is familiar, doesn’t mean that cutting into our flesh is a good thing.

Old thoughts and attitudes must give way to new ones for growth to occur.  And without growth no one can navigate successfully out of the sea of Homelessness to your new life.  You have to spend sometime in self examination and see the signs for what they are.  Continued abuse is not good, toxicity is not good and anything that brings those into your life that you can't shake free of should be looked on as addiction.  And all addiction needs to be acknowledged and help needs to be sought to break free from it. 

Thankfully, here in Savannah there are several groups that offer assistance in saying goodbye to detrimental things in our lives.  If you need to break free from painful things and you are not sure of where to go, the

United Way

has a list of organizations that can be accessed by dialing "211" on any phone. 

Sometimes, it is ok to say goodbye...other times you have to say goodbye to stay alive.