“It’s A Miserable Life” is the third and final part in the “No Room at the Inn” series on homelessness by Chad Houck of http://share5.org

During this series, we have been encouraging you to actively participate in Mark Horvath’s  12 days of Christmas Homeless Push.  So why we didn’t choose to let you know of the push in time for it to end on Christmas Day?  Well, homelessness won’t end on Christmas Day, and the hardest times for a shelter, the greatest needs, come AFTER the holidays – when everyone thinks they’ve done their part.  Thanks to our slight yet intentional delay, your timing should be just about perfect!

No holiday brings out the nostalgia like Christmas.  Every year in my hometown of Boise, ID, Jimmy Stewart’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” is played on the big screen in our historically restored Egyptian Theatre.  Legend has it that as a young soldier, USAF Col. Jimmy Stewart used to sit in the Egyptian’s orchestra pit and play the piano during his days stationed at nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base.  Those behind the traditional playing of the movie see it as a homecoming of sorts, so every year, with popcorn in hand, locals are treated to the return of Clarence the angel, George Bailey, Mr. Potter, Mary, and ZuZu’s petals.

 If you’ve never seen the movie, allow me to summarize.  George Bailey lives in a small town. As a child he decides that he is going to get out and make something of himself someday.  Time goes on, and he instead stays to support those around him.  One thing after another doesn’t work out, and in an ironic twist of fate, a simple mistake ends up causing George’s world to seemingly crash in on him.  In a moment of struggle and confusion, believing that he has no one he can turn to, George chooses to end his life.

 Sounds like a wonderful movie doesn’t it?  If it were to end there, you would have to say “It’s a miserable life.”  Fortunately for George Bailey, that is not the end of the story.  His suicide attempt is cut short by the entrance of Clarence, his personal, albeit somewhat clumsy, Guardian Angel in training.  Saving George is Clarence’s chance to earn his wings.  George needs Clarence, and ironic as it may sound, Clarence needs George.

 Not long ago I met a man named Dave.  We were both coming out of Walmart at about 7am, headed to a far corner of the parking lot.  I had seen Dave earlier on my way in to get some milk.  Now, headed back out, I was carrying my milk and Dave was still empty handed.  He wore a thick flannel shirt jacket, worn jeans, and work boots.  Living the past year in a number of parking lots as we traveled told me that Dave had spent the night in his car in the same parking lot as us.  He had gone inside to ward off the chill of the 40-degree air. 
“Cold out here, isn’t it?” I said as I walked beside him.

“Yep, chilly” he replied.

“Did you sleep alright?”

Dave’s face went blank.  He seemed astonished that I knew he had slept in his car.  Realizing he would quickly try to escape the conversation, I immediately followed up by asking him if he had eaten.  He said no, and I asked if he liked coffee. 

“Sure” he replied.

“Then come on in.  I’ll make you some breakfast, and the coffee’s already started.”

First came a look of both confusion and disbelief, followed by about a 7 second delay as if he thought he was being set up or tricked.  With another encouraging “come on” from me, Dave stepped into our RV and took the seat that I offered him on the couch.

Within seconds, my kids were at his side.  Knowing he was in good hands, I set about making him a couple of breakfast burritos.  When they were ready, I sat him at the table, put his food on a real plate, and poured him a cup of hot coffee in a mug.  This was not a “to-go” meal.

Dave and I sat and talked and he shared a story not entirely different than that of George Bailey.  One circumstance after another had caved in on him, and now he had nowhere left to turn.  He said that he didn’t know if God still cared.  I told him that the food in front of him was a message from God sent by a courier to remind him that He did. 

As we wrapped up our meal, my kids handed Dave a care package with some candy, two water bottles, granola bars, a few drawings, and some socks.  Inside was a postcard with the message, “We hope that this package provides you with something of value, but more importantly reminds you that you are someone of value.” 

With the encouragement of Clarence and a little divine intervention, George Bailey realizes that the world would not have been a better place if he were never born.  As  Christmas Eve descends, he returns to his home, to his family, and to his community, where he finds that the very people that he thought would never miss him had come together to support him.  We never see Clarence again, but we know he got his wings. 

I knew I couldn’t fix Dave’s problem that day, but that wasn’t the point.  I was simply giving him what I could, providing him with the hope he needed to make it through another day, perhaps another week.  I was making sure the movie didn’t end too early.  On that particular morning, Dave needed to hear that he was valued.  Perhaps even more profoundly, however, I needed Dave to remind me that unless I choose to respond to those put before me, people in need will have needs that go unmet. 

As we wrap up this series, and as you go on your way this Christmas, challenge yourself to reflect. Take a moment to reread the 12 days of Christmas Homeless Push.   Ask yourself – Have you overlooked the homeless, lending to their invisibility, and if so, how can you begin to learn their names?  With open eyes that can clearly see the precious person and life that is before you, how can YOU give YOU?   We look forward to hearing your GivStories back here at GivMusic.com, and Merry Christmas.

Read Part I – No Room at the Inn 

Read Part II – Hidden in Plain Sight

Chad Houck is the director of Share5.  Along with his wife and two children, he has spent the last 14 months living in a 35’ motorhome, traveling the United States sharing their lives and their hearts with people and communities in need.  You can learn more about them at their website at http://share5.org.  Chad will be releasing his first book, “Share Well With Others” in early 2010.  It was begun in January of 2009.