Thursday, September 8, 2011

Miles S. Profit

Miles S. Profit, Do you know who that is? Do you have any idea? Neither did the police when they found his body.  Someone discovered Miles while cutting the grass. He was in the brush behind a Walmart. The last time anyone saw Miles he was leaving a men's shelter on St John Street.


Miles was 61 years old , had grey hair and a ponytail and was from Michigan. According to one of the guys in the shelter Miles kept to himself and was kicked out of the shelter for not collecting his retirement. That of coarse is second hand information but you can decide what to believe , I've already made up my mind that its true based on previous experience and how these shelters are run.


Today, according to the local news and coroners report, we found out that Miles took his own life. As if his death wasn't bad enough that news just cut deeper. I am both sad and sickened at the same time. I have so many thoughts and emotions right now I am sad, angry, hurt disappointed and right back to angry.


All I keep thinking about is how hopeless Miles must have felt that this was his only relief from whatever pain he was enduring. What was going through his mind? Does he have any family ,children, anybody? He was missing since August 25 God knows how long he would have been there because NOBODY EVEN NEW HE WAS MISSING.


I am so pissed right now I could hit something. I'm not mad at God I'm mad at us. I'm angry at a country full of such selfishness, a city so greedy that there only interest in a homeless person is there @#$%^&* social security number. I'm tired of people who care more about  property value in there community than the actual community. That's all I hear "Oh well we don't mind you helping people just not in my backyard. " and apparently not in mine either.


This didn't have to happen. Do you realize you can change some ones life with just a few question. Are you OK ? Is there anything I can do ? What do you need? HOW CAN I HELP?
No one deserves to die alone and no one deserves to die because they see no hope.
The news about Miles was posted through a local news agency on facebook . Some of the comments made  were very speculative and ignorant relating to those who do not have permanent housing.


It  never ceases to amaze me how ignorant grown ups can be. Do yourself a favor and take the time to educate yourself about those in need. Talk to someone on the street , have a conversation ,you would be surprised to find they are really not all that different.


In this economy the face of homelessness is no longer the image of the hobo with his handkerchief and stick or the wino hanging out by the liquor store. Its families,  single mothers, single woman, veterans men and woman who served to protect your country.

 The bible says we will always have the poor. They aren't going away, you can't starve them out , stop there services so that you can sweep them under a rug and pretend like they don't exist. It cost nothing to be kind, It cost nothing to care, It already cost Jesus everything .


Most don't reach out to the needy or unsheltered because of fear and we use so many excuses because we care what everybody else thinks accept the one person we need to please.Well in the words of Christopher Titus "Come down off your cross, use the wood to build a bridge and get over it".


I wrote this because I  want Miles to be remembered , not forgotten.  I've never asked before but I am asking everyone to repost this  everywhere because Miles's story should be , had to be and will be told. My hope is that through this post  someone will listen, someone will hear, someone will care because Miles mattered. 



1 John 3:17-19

The Message (MSG)

 16-17This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
When We Practice Real Love
 18-20My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.














Thursday, September 1, 2011

Mandy Marks Woodhouse

Yesterday, My Best friend and her husband left for South Carolina. I don't know how long she will be gone but I miss her already.She is going up there to be a part of Christ Central,  to learn how to help the needy and to serve. I 'm not good at goodbyes and anybody that knows Mandy knows she's a bit of a crier so when we hugged for the last time I was ready. It took about 20 minutes after they pulled off that I shed the first tear but don't say anything , I  have a reputation to protect.

Mandy Marks Woodhouse is one of the most inspiring, talented , beautiful women I know. Mandy is also an incredible teacher and writer. If there was  one word to describe Mandy it would be LOVE. Mandy knows how to love genuinely and sincerely.
I met Mandy last year , although I feel like I've known her my whole life. She was raised in Louisiana but attended Hillsongs in Australia were she met her husband Carston. They came back here to start what would be the beginning of answered prayer.

Carston led our group on Thursdays and Mandy led our women's group on  Tuesdays and it was at that first women's meeting that my life would never be the same. Mandy brought a group of women together from all walks of life and none of us were anything alike and Mandy grew and nurtured this group into a sisterhood, a den of lionesses, a life line for each other and woman who are genuinely in love with Jesus.

It was this sisterhood that would put together and develop a plan of action to feed , clothe, and love people in need every Saturday morning  which would become "The Breakfast Club".  I don't  think she fully realizes the impact she has had or the people she has infected with her love and generosity.
I have never known a more selfless thoughtful person. She has inspired me in so many ways but Mandy through God  taught me how to love people through anything . She showed me that love works.
What I will miss most is her quirky sense of humor,  her excessive use of un-American phrases  like "arvo", her love of British comedy and the infamous word I will never get out of my head- "bouncy"because she is a Mighty Boosh freak.

Neither of us are perfect and like most REAL friendships we don't agree on everything  but we do agree to be friends in spite of it. I hope she knows that she was  appreciated, I pray she knows how much she means to us and I want her to know that she was valued. I hope  she realizes who her friends are and that we want to do life with her again someday. I pray she knows that my life is changed for the better because she is  in it.  Well if she didn't' know before, she knows now.

You are a treasure Woodhouse and  I am  proud of myself for knowing it. I'm incredibly grateful to God for you! In  life you are my friend, in my heart you are family, in my spirit you're my sister. I love you!