Freedom

mornings with the homeless always remind you about the meaning of life.

Curtis, a friend who lives under a bridge downtown, told me about how he ended up on the street. We’ve become good friends. Like me, he grew up with a father who was absent and dealing with issues of his own. Curtis chased the love of his father and eventually stole an awesome shiny car one day, in an attempt to find him.

In his mind he was headed to California where his father had moved.

Now for those of you who read this and simply are appalled by someone who steals a car – let me tell you; desire pulls us to do crazy things. You may not have stolen a car, but if you’ve ever lusted after another human, or a cupcake, or something you just didn’t need, you might know what I’m referring to.

The desire for the love of a father, is like a magnet. It’s as if you’re being pulled inside yourself, inside out.

Most of the people who are homeless are there because they never reconciled what happened to them as a child. They are not free.

I remember feeling upside down, before I realized that God was my father. But then I got free and stopped struggling to understand human failings. Humans sometimes disappoint. We can’t always understand why.

So Curtis was driving the shiny new car down the pacific Coast highway. Sun was shining, waves crashing against the shore. “It was the most beautiful drive in the world, Tammy. I had fallen in love with this car. was so happy, so joyful. Going to find my father.”

His father was a rejecting person. He’d left the kids and his wife early on, and never stayed in contact. Curtis said he was almost there, driving, and felt happy and free! He saw a police car speed by with sirens on, and then several, and a roadblock up ahead. He said he thought: “Wow, they must be looking for a bad criminal.”

Curtis kept on driving. Not a criminal, but a free man, a little boy, with the wind blowing through his hair. Ahead, the police captured him, and he served over a decade in jail. When he was released, he ended up on the streets of Dallas.

“But how come it didn’t occur to you to think the police were after you?” I asked.

“I was just so happy and free. and I was on a mission. I was almost there.”

See, I believe that the desire for freedom and wholeness causes us to do strange things. The desire to know who we are and where we came from can be powerful, and powerfully destructive. People get wounded, and have a hard time living without answers. So we seek them, or seek to cover the pain with the wrong things. Like Curtis, sometimes we just want to take a ride, to be free, with the wind blowing through our hair.

2010

New life, new year.
A few points to ponder/ things I’ve learned along the way. Unlike Letterman’s list, there are only 6.

1: Success isn’t monetary. Sure, this seems obvious to most. But let’s really redefine achievement and what it means in this new year. I’ve met a lot of homeless people who are richer in character, love, and peace, than those living in the largest mansions.

2: Love and peace, are major assets in your life. Perhaps the two best you can possess.

3: Corinthians confirms this. “The greatest of these is Love…”
Can you imagine? He places love over even Faith in God. Read it.

4: If people say they want you, love you, and need you, make sure that what they’re saying lines up with what they’re doing. Maybe mom was right. Actions really do speak louder than words. Same with your business life. Make sure words and actions are congruent. If you’re confused, cut your losses and move on to a higher level of living and peace will be your reward. This requires a bit of sacrifice, perhaps loss, and pain, most of the time.

5: Congruency is the greatest challenge of mankind. But when our thoughts, words, and actions are all in alignment, your body mind and soul are at peace. Otherwise, there’s conflict. As Paul wrote, I do what i do not want to do. Ever done that before?

6: Adventure might provide adrenaline, and so does angst. But overall we should seek Peace, not Justice. That was one of the greatest lessons someone taught me last year. You cannot put a price on peace.

Happy New Year, friends.
Love, Tammy

Practicing what we preach

Yes, you’re right.

Life is complex, and there are many many moments when we should practice what we preach.

I’m an imperfect human in an imperfect world. But aren’t we all?

Forgiveness is hard, but it’s the path to nobility. When you stop to think about it, is it possible that the one who wronged you, did not know the hurt they caused?
I’m sorry. I’m sorry a million times.
You can say that,
but sometimes a heart won’t hear it. It’s possible that when you say ‘I’m sorry,” that someone is so set in their ways that they just won’t understand.

On the streets of dallas this morning with 300 homeless, I saw the result of unforgiveness and bitterness. Ending up at the end of yourself is not about economics. Living under a bridge is about a lack of something emotional – whether it be forgiveness, an inability to reach out and accept a word, overcome a tragedy, or accept love.

I vow to be unoffendable.
Because life is too short. Life is too joyful, and a gift from God.

Reach out, extend a hand, and a heart.
There is no time to waste, no time for grievance or negativity.

Forgiveness is freedom.
Imagine freedom.
and then move on.
People use those two words to describe wealth, but the real wealth is a peaceful life.

Colossians says;
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

This entry is for you.
Imagine freedom.