homeless « fandango

The power of a run. It’s illustrated by the connection I have with Sheretta.

Sheretta is a shy woman, almost 26, single mom and just moved out of a homeless shelter. Sheretta is also a Member of Back on My Feet. Yes, the kickass organization I work for.

In March 2011, I went for my first run with Sheretta. We literally got stuck running together because we’re the same height, same pace, same sense of humor. Starting out for a two mile run, I would ask Sheretta about life… no response. About her kids… one word answer. I have vivid memories of running through the streets of downtown Dallas in utter silence, not because I didn’t have anything to say (HA!), but because I knew I didn’t need to.

Today, we can’t stop talking. She knows my heart, she knows my love for laughter and she definitely knows I’m not the best babysitter.

I’m not writing all of this today to ask for money (that’s my day job). I am writing this today - and you can see what D Magazine wrote about Sheretta - because we need to turn her new house into a home.

In December 2011, Sheretta moved into a three bedroom townhome. Today, she is still sleeping on an air mattress with her angels, Taylor and Tylor. With two kids under the age of five, Sheretta’s family needs a whole lot of everything!

Two twin size beds
One full/queen size bed
Dining room table and chairs
Dressers, one for each member of the family
Two desks
Lamps
Shelves
Curtains
Rugs
Chairs

I am personally renting a truck on Saturday, January 28th to help pick up donated, low-cost items. If you have an item which you would like to donate to Sheretta, Taylor (five year-old girl) and Tylor (two year-old boy). Please email me at kristenkouk@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Duane is from Irving. He’s lived in Canada and Oklahoma. He doesn’t have a home now.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

I can’t assume Duane hasn’t always run towards Christ. However, I will assume that there have been rare pearls of inspirational moments in Duane’s life.

He doesn’t know it (he can barely remember my name), but Duane inspires me to run.

Running and racing is inherently selfish; perhaps that’s why it was used in this letter to early believers. We are entreated to delegate time, training and effort towards investing in ourselves if we are to efficiently persevere through the race, our run towards Christ. Also known as perfection. No pressure.

I am the last person to preach concerning athletic perseverance. Thirty minutes into Danceaton and I am laughing at my snapping skills, planning my next Pinkberry visit and calculating my haggle for a gently loved Marc Jacobs handbag. These are weak thoughts. Weak, un-athletic physical moments have been accompanied by pathetic, unchallenged inner dialogue over the past two years.

I’ve recruited my cloud of witnesses, those teammates without a home, and I am ready to throw off the feeble attitude that hinders me from running the race marked out for me. Literally and figuratively. Concurrently.

Matthew 5:41 “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”

Sheretta

Going to Keep Going

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