Wildflower

THE WILDFLOWER

In autumn it was planted
Grew strong amid the snows
Amid the sandy pinelands
a wildflower grows

I’m not much of a gardener,
but I tend it when I can
With caution, but still trusting
That God must have a plan

I water it with moments
I shelter it with care
Some know and may have seen it
but most don’t know it’s there

I give it love, I give it time
I give it light and room
And sometimes grow impatient
With the hope that it will bloom

It could be an illusion
For the winter’s been so bleak
That any sign of life
Would to the season’s end bespeak

Sometimes I fear, that even still
Despite such careful toil
One day, I may return to find
An empty patch of soil

I’m learning to just take my time
To breathe and take it slow
With gratitude, and awe to watch
My wildflower grow.

The Lightkeepers

Sometimes, my brain gets crowded, and my heart cowers in fear of being trampled beneath the weight of my thoughts.

And with good reason. It all began with a small fire that destroyed a resident's tent, resulting in material loss and inconvenience, but fortunately nothing more.

But that was followed by another fire - one that claimed the life of My Dyn, who was not only a very sweet, friendly man, but who really was trying to get himself together.

Then, more tragedies: learning of three men - two incarcerated in Burlington County and one up in New York - who suffered from mental illness and lacked the capacity to care for themselves. They were met not with compassion, but with cruel indifference. And they lost their lives as a result.

And then came the news of the motel fire in nearby Point Pleasant that killed, injured, and/or displaced so many people - many of whom were already homeless due to Superstorm Sandy.

All these people - My Dyn, the three men, the Sandy victims - were told to wait. To have hope. To be patient.

They died, still waiting.

Yesterday, I went to Tent City and was met by the sight of Lakewood's bulldozers yet again, tearing down now-abandoned tents. Mike McNeil from STEPS had come to camp, and was subsequently flanked on all sides by homeless people in the midst of panic and despair. With unsubstantiated rumors that Tent City would be completely demolished within the next month, they were demanding to know how much longer until the Township of Lakewood followed through on their promise.

How much longer, indeed. For some, it would be a week. But others - namely those whose ability to care for themselves independently was called into question - will have to wait longer. Perhaps indefinitely.

They are being told to wait. To have hope. To be patient.

Those are the people for whom my soul weeps.

But even in the midst of all this doubt, with time, self-care, and encouragement from the people around me, the mental traffic jam dissipates, and my heart finds peace. And my mind finds wisdom.

For example, I'm learning a great deal about what it means to love unconditionally. And how to best call upon that love so that I may serve as a beacon of light, warmth, and hope, even when every ship in sight is being thrashed by storms of uncertainty. In a conversation I had with Minister Steve yesterday, there was a mention of boats, and the notion of living on the water. Having spent nearly every summer of my life at the shore, and having had somewhat of a love affair with the ocean almost from birth, the thought of navigating a house boat has always intrigued me.

But in terms of personality, I must confess that I see myself as less of a sailor, and more of a lightkeeper.

Calling to mind the song "Turn, Turn, Turn" (based on Ecclesiastes 3:1) I am learning that there is a time and a place for patience - and yes, for waiting - but also a time and a place for action. A time to listen, carefully and without interjection, and a time to make our collective voice heard loud and clear. Like a foghorn calling to sailors far and wide.

May we find the strength to face the raging sea, lift our voices, and shine our light.

Peace and love, my friends!

Homelessness in America by Julia Ronneburger

What if we lived in world where we were forced to live each day in a constant state of fear for our lives? From one day to the next, you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from. Forget trusting your neighbors, because when every single one of your possessions is at risk for being stolen, even the very shoes on your feet, you make it your job to protect them. Every night before you went to sleep, you pray to God just to be able to wake up the next morning. Now, imagine what life must be like for those who aren't fortunate enough to have a roof over their head. It follows the above scenario quite closely, doesn't it? Homelessness is unquestionably a prodigious issue in this country. There are over a million people out on the streets facing those types of horrors on a day to day basis. The shelters already available only make the nightmare even worse, as most of them can hardly even be considered adequate for temporary living. It truly makes you wonder what the government is doing with our money. Instead of turning a blind eye to those who are in need, the United States government should attribute a greater portion of their budget to finding permanent housing for the homeless.

Homeless shelters are a fantastic idea. This is, among donations and a few homeless awareness organizations, our current solution. But when the shelters aren’t maintained well enough to the point where people would rather choose the streets, that’s when you know there is a problem. Former homeless man David Pirtle describes his experience in a homeless shelter in an interview on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation. “You hear a lot of terrible things about shelters, that shelters are dangerous places, that they're full of drugs and drug dealers, that people will steal your shoes, and there's bedbugs and body lice… And I found out that a lot of what I was afraid of was true.”  Pirtle describes them as “a lot of big warehouses that are just places where we stick people at night and we really don't have any regard for how they live there.” It’s no wonder why most homeless people would rather spend the night sleeping in an alleyway rather than put themselves at risk of mistreatment, robbery, and diseases. The only source of help most of these people have are the shelters, and even then, many people are turned away due a past record of alcohol abuse, drug addiction, or mental illness. Looking at the greater picture, it’s really not their fault that they’ve ended up like this. After falling into financial situation where they are unable to support themselves, they turn to desperate options. These people have turned to such habits because of the inequitable situations they were forced into, not because they’re ‘reckless’ or ‘don’t feel like following the rules’. Yet somehow, in the eyes of many, these people are considered as nothing more that ‘psycho druggies who are too lazy or too pathetic to find work.’  The fact that some people actually believe this is just downright discomforting.

Another point to mention is money. Since the 2008 recession, it’s safe to say the economy hasn’t exactly been in the best state it can be. Times of economic distress are when people reflect and ponder, what is the government really doing with our money? On average, the United States spends approximately 20% of its budget on military expenses. “[That equates to] $718 billion on defense and international assistance,” adds The Washington Post. While it’s wonderful to have strong and able forces ready to protect the nation at the slightest notice, there are more useful, constructive things we could be spending our money on. In addition, at the end of 2014, the national debt is predicted to exceed $21 trillion. Not million. Not billion. Trillion. Now, that doesn’t appear to be a model example of “smart saving.” An alternative argument that arises is if the United States is already drowning in debt, why not just significantly cut spending all around and be more mindful of where our money’s going rather than wasting it on something else? Surely this is a valid point, however, it is better to turn old spending habits around. Start directing more attention to a cause that truly needs it.

It is not right that we allow people to live in poverty. An American middle class lifestyle would be considered living like royalty in other regions of the world. Moreover, if people knew that families with children account for 36% of the homeless population, would they still turn the other way? Or that 40% of homeless adult men are United States veterans who have fought for this country and our lives yet struggle to live without a safe place to go at night? Compassion seems to be getting scarcer and scarcer as we progress into a future of technology and greed. Power, money, and personal gain have become more of a priority in today's society than philanthropy. Regardless, all people deserve the right to life and the basic necessities: fresh food and water, comfortable clothes on their backs, and a safe place to live.

Homelessness is not an obstacle so easily averted. To bring the matter of contention to pass, the best solution is for us as a nation and the leaders of this country to wake up, stop recklessly dissipating finances, and direct the proper advocacy towards the homeless. What we have now clearly isn’t working. It is an abomination that we as a society continue to neglect those living in dearth. When there’s something in the world that needs to be put right, it’s up to the people to join together to set things in place. With collective benevolence, entirely abolishing homelessness may very well become a reality.

Go Big or Go Home: My Letter to Governor Chris Christie

Dear Governor Christie:

Earlier this year, in your inaugural address, these words you spoke struck a chord in me.

"We have now learned that we have an even bigger role to play as individual citizens. We have to be willing to play outside the red and blue boxes the media and pundits put us in; we have to be willing to reach out to others who look or speak differently than us; we have to be willing to personally reach out a helping hand to a neighbor suffering from drug addiction, depression or the dignity stripping loss of a job. New Jersey came together as one community when it mattered most and now we must stay together — people of every background and belief — the government and our people — to help our fellow citizens reach their dreams."

When you spoke last week at Holiday City in Berkeley, there was a woman sitting in the back, holding a sign. It read:

HELPING THE HOMELESS
WE HAVE IT ALL PLANNED
WE ARE NOT HOPELESS
ALL WE NEED IS LAND
www.TentCityNJ.org

That woman was me. And this is the story behind that sign.

That day, you addressed the crowd and spoke of government bureaucracy – something we who advocate for New Jersey’s homeless know all too well. When I saw you greet my friend Nahdirah – who is not only a Tent City advocate, but also a former resident herself – I was overjoyed.  Because our battle to help the homeless in Ocean County has been a long and arduous one, and you offered us a glimmer of hope.

Since the mid-2000s, Tent City of Lakewood has served as a stopgap solution to address Ocean County’s growing homelessness - and, as stated by its founder, Minister Steven Brigham, “a living demonstration of a need for shelter and affordable housing.” Then, in 2012, Hurricane Sandy not only destroyed physical homes, but also ravaged the economy in Ocean County to the point that the working poor became the homeless poor. The surge in Tent City occupancy following the superstorm was unprecedented.

Some left homeless by Sandy were able to obtain motel rooms or small apartments at a cost of around $1500 a month. But not everyone was able to receive housing benefits, so many homeless people left living on the streets, in cars, or elsewhere – deprived of not only the basic necessities of human life, but any sense of dignity or community.

You’ve also no doubt heard about the ongoing battle between Tent City and the Township of Lakewood. The good news is that Lakewood has agreed to place a number of Tent City’s occupants in free housing for one year, during which time they will be formally dismantling the camp.

The bad news is, because Ocean County has no homeless shelter, where the folks in the temporary housing will end up after that year is over is anyone’s guess.

As the sign says, however, we are indeed far from hopeless. We DO have a plan.

Destiny’s Bridge is a privately-run, non-profit charity organization that aims to continue the work started in Tent City with many improvements. We envision it as a place where those have found themselves without a home for whatever reason, can heal, become strong and empowered. Unlike a traditional “homeless shelter”, that provides simply a cot and a roof over one’s head, Destiny’s Bridge provides an actual temporary home, sense of community and sense of purpose that nurtures dignity and self-worth. All we really need is the land on which to build it.

Governor Christie, we need your help. We are counting on you to help us ensure that if ever a tragedy like Sandy should strike again, every human being can still receive shelter, food, clothing, and human dignity. Please help us, as you instructed, to "help our fellow citizens reach their dreams."

With warmest regards,
Lisa Rose Ferrara

Being the change...

Dear Jillian,

Welcome to Tent City, and I'm very happy I got to meet you yesterday. "Be The Change" is a great organization, and it's extremely inspiring to see young adults coming together and using their gifts to serve others.

But specifically, I find YOUR choice - to spend your spring break in Tent City - remarkably inspiring. Even with the worst of the winter being over (we hope), it's a far cry from a sunny beach in Cancun or Daytona. Or even Mom's sofa playing Xbox. For lack of a better comparison, Tent City is basically a Third World village in a first-world town.

Some things you have probably discovered by now: first off, that roosters do not just crow in the morning. And, those little feathered devils can be loud enough to wake the dead.

Secondly, when you hear the bell (actually, the big empty propane tank), a certain number of rings means a sermon is about to begin, and a different number means food has arrived and/or is being served.

Thirdly - and this I can promise you - you will leave a completely different person.

I started out solely doing online advocacy work for Tent City - blogging, video editing, and assisting with online promotion and PR. On one of my very first visits, sometime in late October of last year, I didn't come with truckloads of donations. I came with a bag of apples, a few women's coats, and a case of water. There was a large church group (possibly two) that brought in truckloads of items. In terms of what I was able to, literally, bring to the table, I felt pretty small.

But I also realized how fortunate we are in Tent City to have food and clothing in abundance, so those temporal needs are always met, with enough left over to help the working poor of the greater community outside of Tent City. You'll note that the big yellow behemoth in the middle of camp is always very packed, and there are makeshift storage pods here and there as well. We are a society of great material wealth, even among that which we might normally throw away.

Emotional and spiritual needs, however, are much more of a challenge - to give them, but also to receive them. Because even if giving seems effortless and natural, you never know how you will be received by someone going in.

Recently, a pastor visiting Tent City gave a sermon about how we are all "cracked pots" - and how our flaws are actually opportunities to let God's love shine through. I cannot tell you how much that resonated with me. I wrote a blog entry a while back about how God doesn't call the qualified, but instead qualifies the called.

So while you're here, don't forget to pray, and keep an open heart. He will give you everything you need. And when we open ourselves to that, it is the most powerful, transforming experience you can have here in your time on Earth.

So, thank you for flying, please fasten your seatbelt, and remember that your seat cushion can also be used as a flotation device...just kidding. Again, welcome, and may Love shine through you, guide you, and keep you warm during your stay.

Spring Ahead...

If you live in New Jersey, or anyplace else affected by the polar vortex, you understand. It has, as the Beatles once sang, been a long, cold, lonely winter. But when I woke this morning to sunshine and fifty degree temperatures, I was able to imagine what it must feel like for the butterfly to emerge from its cocoon for the first time.

So with my windows rolled down, driving through Atlantic Highlands with its lofty ocean views, my the radio turned up, and no one to remind me I don't have wings, I flew for a little while.

The proof of spring's approach is also heralded this day by setting our clocks ahead one hour. While I may lament the loss of that single precious hour, I also know it will, like the ice and snow, return just as seasons do.

Truly, now is the time for new beginnings. For everything once asleep beneath the snow, or tucked inside the tall branches, to awaken.

For hope, and for possibilities.

For the first signs of new life.

Let it begin.

Godspeed, Michael and Marilyn!

http://www.my9nj.com/story/24851286/farewell-to-tent-citys-piano-man

Left to right: Minister Steven Brigham, Michael
Berenzweig, Marilyn Berenzweig, Tent City
Volunteer Susan Faye Lorito-Schindler

On Thursday, Tent City residents Michael “Piano Man” and his wife Marilyn Berenzweig (pictured, center) left Tent City with the help of two volunteers. Susan Faye Lorito-Schindler (pictured, right) and her young son Kevin embarked on the arduous journey, loading up the formerly homeless couple’s belongings as well as the menagerie of birds and other animals in the Berenzweigs’ care.

Su sent us an update a short while ago:

All is quiet in my car the last 150 miles, Kevin fell asleep. Have to drop him off at his dad's. He has no school tomorrow,;I have no work. It has been an exhausting trip. There were some things that didn't go the way we wanted them to, certainly didn't expect some of the complications that came up. But overall I think it was a successful trip. I'm glad that maybe the worst of it is over. We plan to go back in about 2 months. Something good still need to be worked on; there are friends to help with. It's good to have friends in different places with different views. It is amazing how people come through for you when you really need them to. We threw caution to the wind and continue to push forward regardless of the doubt and fear.

Sometimes what one can do just never seems enough. I got some good pictures and we'll go down and visit soon. The things that need to be taken care of are going to have to be put in the hands of friends. One friend came with his cousin to take the U Haul truck back because I just didn't have time. Another friend is going tomorrow to see if there's anything else that they need. Someone offered furniture. It’s just overwhelming.

I think one of the most profound moments that I had was a very surreal experience of sitting with Michael in a church pew, reading verses in the Bible that he pointed out to me during the service. We were there for about 3 hours. We had a great meal together with the pastor and someone who sang acapella to the congregation and a few others. You would have fell out of your chair when you heard Michael preaching at the preacher and telling him if he didn't know Hebrew he didn't know how to translate the Bible! The food was good and I had never seen him eat that much. We had a lot of fun. He got phone numbers and one lady lives just a couple miles down the same road they are on; she gave her card and two numbers to reach her for absolutely anything they need.

One thing that is simply shocking to me is Marilyn's agility and flexibility and strength. I did not know that she had done yoga in her life until I saw her stretching first thing in the morning as the Sun came up over the field. She can bend straight down as straight as can be and put her hands on her feet. I cannot even touch my toes! She seems to have endless energy to walk the field with all the chickens and buckets of water.

Two women came to speak to us at the church and one spoke with Michael about local services and transportation and such. The other asked me about why we were there, and I explained a little bit about the circumstances. She said, “you must really love him a lot!” I got so choked up trying to tell her she grabbed a hold of me and hugged me really hard and said, “don't worry, we'll take care of them.”

Please keep Michael and Marilyn in your prayers as they begin this remarkable new journey!