"'How?' This is the question which is popping up in my head. 'How can we ignore this?' I was sitting there in the U.N. Plaza watching people avert their eyes. 'What are they afraid of? Are they scared they will see themselves? I am one of those who turns my head. I am guilty of the same thing. What are they missing because they turn their heads? They avoid the pain but they miss out on the beauty, humanity and life which is there as loud as loud can be. Who are we protecting? When will we realize they are beautiful?'

"Caesar knew that it was my first time out there (at least with the 'mission' I had). He stopped his friends from talking about the bad, depressing parts of life. He wanted me to see the beauty. He wasn't ' homeless'. He had a home, 'the earth is my home. ' Hey!!! That's my answer! The earth is my home! How can the earth be both our homes and at the same time he be considered lower than me and 'homeless'? We are both housed under God's roof and enjoy God's beautiful world. WOW! That means Caesar and I are the same. We are one. We are beautiful. "

"The experience of today that touched me most deeply was the sense of community I saw. How we in our church, work place, schools, etc. try so hard to create a 'community' and today I found with the homeless men and women all the signs of a 'community'. I felt welcomed, included, heard, warmth, laughter, helpfulness in every way. I entered a stranger and left feeling a part of a totally authentic moment of real deep community. My sense was of being blessed in many ways. I carry this moment deep within me as I leave here today, my deep gratitude for this day. "

"The day began with trepidation - what would I encounter on the streets? I walked down the UN Plaza and was somewhat taken back by the situation. Where would I begin? How could I help? Anger arose - how could this situation exist, and just a few feet from City Hall? How can we just walk by? And it occurs to me, that is what we do - we just walk by, perhaps overwhelmed by the situation, our feeling of helplessness, afraid to look at what is triggered by this supposedly less than pretty sight. But that is it - on the surface or first glance - it is just an unpleasant sight. But contact with the people in this situation changes everything. Suddenly they are no longer objects to be ignored but human beings with stories, pain, humor, struggles - just like me. Its really not very much different. The homeless represent deep seated fears we all have. For me there was difficulty at times. I kept feeling an urge to change the situation. I felt the weight of the stories at times. But I also saw the lightness, the humor, the camaraderie. I was moved by the sense of community and the openness. At all times I felt welcomed in this circle. At all times. And that is amazing to me?"

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