Like Chasing Squirrels

Chapter 2

When We Get There

By Steven Walks On The Grass

Anyone who knows me or is familiar with my book, Long Road Home, will know that my logic can be rather convoluted. I’m like that Labrador pup that jumps up and down to say, “Throw the ball, throw the ball, I’ll go Chase it!” So I run off to chase after the ball, but then I spot a squirrel! Forget the ball; I’m off to chase that squirrel. Yeah, that’s me, I tend to be flighty, jumping from one thing to another but in the end, I always seem to finish what I start. At least I try to. I don’t know what I do when I’m into something. I pretty much focus on it until I figure out how to get it finished and then I finish it.

 When I said I wanted to invite you to come along with me on this journey, I meant it. So many things have happened since I came home. I sat here trying to remember the 1st thing I did or the 1st thing Janice and I did. What the %$#@, I can’t even remember THAT and it isn’t even 3 months yet. So I’m just gonna hit on some of the cool things that I’ve observed or done and some of the not so cool things that have happened.

Let’s start with school and me getting the Vice President’s Academic Achievement Award for my college attendance and grades. I got through Spring semester with a high grade point average. To me that is amazing because I’ve been so fragile with learning everything else I need to know to live in your world. To think I could even make it through a semester of college and excel surprises even me, but hey, I’ve surprised myself before many times.

So let me tell you about my job. Yes! I finally got hired on a job in a field that I feel called to. I’m working for the Salvation Army as an aide in an overflow homeless shelter. This job entails helping homeless people by processing them into the shelter, seeing that they’re fed, clothed, given showers if they wish, and a place to sleep in a safe environment. Ironically enough, the entire system that houses these homeless people seems to function without too many hitches. In the short time I’ve been working there I’ve found the staff I work with to be compassionate and caring people who really and truly want to help make this world a better place. For that I applaud you all.

You would be amazed by the people you can meet and the stories you will hear from these homeless people. Astounding. Even in my darkest hours I never had it as bad as some of them. I’ve never had to choose between medication or food, between shelter or exposure to the elements. Hearing stories about people in horrible situations saddens me but they also convince me that my cause, my desire to help make this world a better place, is valid.  While the people I’m working with are helping me learn how to better serve in this position, in my job, I still wish I could do so much more. Some of these things break my heart, mostly how people in the world treat them.

Anyway, not long ago I purchased an electric bike so I’ll have transportation to get to school and work. This thing is amazing. It will go thirty four miles an hour and has a fifty-mile range. Not everybody is thrilled about me being out in traffic with this thing and it didn’t take long for me to find out about rude drivers on the roads. It seems that some people really don’t know how to drive and one almost got me killed last week. As I started across an intersection with a green light, this guy suddenly swerved from the right lane into the left lane and turned directly in front of me. I had the green light and so did he, but he did not have the right of way and had no business switching lanes like that.  The guy claimed he didn’t see me. How could he not see me? My bike is as big as a motorcycle and I’m not a small man needless to say. Luckily, I saw him and locked up the brakes. The bike stopped on the dime it was guaranteed to stop on. I dumped it in the process, pulling my hamstring and bruising myself up pretty bad but I’m alive and for the next week my beautiful Janice nursed me back to health.  

So this week, I go to work doing 8-hour shifts. Janice was waiting outside to pick me up when I got off at 2 AM. As I came out my foot hit a broken piece of concrete in the sidewalk that’s badly in need a repair and down I go again, reinjuring the hamstring. Right now I’m laying here in my bed with my leg on a heating pad, then it will be back to the ice pack. Hot cold hot cold hot cold like my mom and my wife insist I must do. Seems like everybody knows what to do but me; all I get to do is lay here and hurt. I don’t die easy so I’ll be all right but one thing is for sure, I don’t heal as fast as I used to. Guess I’m getting old.

I’ve never had a job before that I really wanted to go to. Now when I walk in the doors at work, my heart feels good, my soul feels like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m trying to help people. That’s all I need to do – love God, stay true to my course doing the right thing every time, and all will be well. I can’t help but think that maybe I’m on the right track. I know I am! Everything in my life right now seems better since I got this job, since I’m able to work in the field I want to be in just helping people who need help. So here I am laying in my bed waiting until the last moment to take a shower and get ready so that I can go to work. At the moment, I can barely walk but I will get through that shift. If I don’t I may have missed a chance to help someone and I never want to miss that chance again.

Lots of other things going on but I’ll tell you about them later. Now I need to change the heating pad for an ice pack. And by the way, for the idiot that doesn’t know how to make a left turn and not run in front of people, I forgive you but some people are just too stupid to drive.