Posted by Q (198.64.206.92) on June 20, 2000 at 23:27:37:
In Reply to: But posted by Ted on June 20, 2000 at 19:00:07:
... Having been homeless, let me say this... All I have to visualize is a cardboard box. Doesn't even have to be an actual box, a thought of one will do. I better be grateful for where I came from. And let me tell you there is little pride in that. Nor is there shame. It is a fact, so you just have to accept it for what it is, and move on.
There are two words that you might want to remember: Yet and Again. Tack them onto the prayer. "There, but for the grace of God, go I, AGAIN." And, "But I haven't done that, YET!"
It is not about the other person, it is about what can happen to one's self. I see a homeless person, under a bridge, and see myself as both a past and potential future outcome. The nice thing about the homeless is that they are so invisible, you can look right at them, most of the time, and not see anything at all. That is one of the nice features of denial. Other times, everyone is wearing my clothes and a rubber mask. And it is not a dream, it is a memory that slams you back to reality. And the truth.
True humility is the result of a smashed ego. I have some degree of humility, earned by surrender of ego. It is not perfection, but it is progress.
BUT, as they say in Texas, "It aint braggin' if you can do it!" That's not ego, its just fact!
:) And, the truth is that I haven't been homeless, yet, but do know quite a few of the homeless sort quite well. I know how short a fall it is from here to there. For that I am grateful. But, let one of those hommies covet my refrigerator box and you have a fight on your hand. My box is waxed.