There’s a newspaper here in Nashville called the Contributor. It’s a paper that homeless people sell as a way to make money without having to beg. Really cool idea and a great organization.
I see homeless people selling that paper every day in Nashville as I’m driving around taking care of my needs for the day. I don’t usually buy the paper. Why? Cause I think if you buy the paper you should buy it cause your interested in it. Other wise just give the person some money and forget the paper. But I don’t wanna get into that whole debate right now.
So most of the people selling the paper just kinda stand there holding it, or walk up and down the side of an intersection. Most of the time there’s some waves and smiles.
But yesterday I was driving in a part of town that I’m not usually in and I saw a homeless woman totally WORKING IT. She wanted to sell. She was not content letting her housing situation do the selling. She was dressed up like a 4th of July hippy. She was excited. Top hat. Long silver wig, some scarves, crazy glasses…and she walked with a strut.
There was not a single car that past that she didn’t look them in the eyes and wave. It was totally out of place and totally amazing.
I didn’t buy a paper from that lady either cause, but I should have, I did the wrong thing. She was passionate and she was inspirational to everyone who laid eyes on her.
She might never know that I was effected by her passion.
But passion wasn’t necessarily designed as a vehicle for our affirmation.
The things you do and the way you do it matters. That homeless lady will not be homeless for long because she gets it and is willing to lay it on the line.
I wish I was more like her.
