Support System & The Edge

Two short pieces about surviving, thriving

---

Support System

Lisa was home in her usual way, making dinner for her husband Rick and her sons David and James. Unbeknownst to her, her world would turn over, and her husband was to die in their bed that evening.

Janice was done. “This is the last time ever he does this to me,” she was thinking as she fled. But where could she go? Her shame and humiliation were too much in her heart to face the battered women's shelter.

On what would have been his twenty-eighth wedding anniversary Bob was scouting out the backroads of New Jersey. Trying to sell bits and pieces of his collapsed life, soon to be a divorced man.

Joe knew he needed help, but he didn't know for what. Did the drug use lead to mental illness? Or was it in response to it?

I’ve known all of these people and their stories.

All but one of these beginnings ended in longterm homelessness. All of them could have had a better outcome. All of them could have used a bit of “hope.”

Bob's story did not lead him to being homeless. Bob had a support system, friends, family and a church family. Without which he may have slipped through the cracks.

I am Bob.

I had hope from my support system. And though I still struggle, I am blessed with shelter, sustenance and raiment. Now I try to give hope to others.

My hope now is that homelessness can be prevented. My hope is that vulnerable people without a support system will find people who are willing to fill those gaps—with a word up, a hand up or a prayer up.

Can you be the hope to someone today? Your encouragement, your help, your love, your presence could make all the difference.

---

The Edge

Sitting here counting my change, lost my last job when I had to miss to fix my heater. Well, not my heater, the only heater I own is the one in my car. My car is the only thing of value I own. I am living in a friend's trailer, the deal was I was to repair and refurbish it after my friend's son destroyed it while on drugs. Good news: her son is on the path to recovery. 

I know some of my old habits are keeping me down. I know I suffer from depression and high anxiety. I know self-medicating doesn't work. I know that I’m scared to death of professional medication. 

These are the things I think. At 61 years old you would think I would have a better grasp on this thing called life. I think the same thing. 

If you saw me today, you would have no idea that I live on the edge. I don’t look “homeless” or ragged.

You see how close the edge has come to my life. But I will not give in or give up.

Instead, I will give all.

I have a friend who is counting on me, as she is disabled and lives in our home, she makes it comfortable but needs my income to pay the rent and utilities. I do start my new job Wednesday and things will get better, but I always seem to wind up back close to the edge. I pray to someday be able to distance myself from the edge. 

You may know such an individual, a friend, someone at work, a family member, someone at church. Your prayer for them is the same as mine for me, that they will find a way to learn to thrive instead of just to survive. 

Can you be the hope to someone today? Your encouragement, your help, your love, your presence could make all the difference.