Humble Pie with some Maplewood syrup...

 To say the very least, the students in the Developing Community Leaders program at Maplewood High School looked very uninterested in what I had to say a few weeks ago.  I went to their class to speak to them about participating in Project Homeless Connect, a Nashville event that manages to serve anywhere from 1500-2000 homeless people in one day.  Soles4Souls would be participating again, distributing close to 500 pair of shoes and having adequate volunteers for this was a “must”.  It also presented itself as a great serving opportunity for these teenagers handpicked by Maplewood to be in the program because of their leadership potential.

But I stood in the classroom that day, speaking to them, and I was concerned: heads were on their desks; they were texting, and constantly getting up to get the hall pass (did they REALLY need to go to the bathroom, or was I that boring???).

But hey, we needed them…and from the sounds of it, they needed and asked for the experience.  Kelly and LaCita from Soles4Souls had been working with them, and had approached me months ago for a local opportunity.

March 28^th came quick, and we were all set-up and ready to go.  Project Homeless Connect gave us a large area to distribute in, the shoes are a hot commodity at the event.  Most of the men and women we serve are on the streets, and their feet are their main mode of transport.  So, sturdy shoes are needed. 

The Maplewood kids arrived, and just as I asked, they had no cell phones on them!  Yes!  They put on their Project Homeless Connect tee-shirts, Yes! They seemed awake and alert, YES!  YES!!  One student in particular was color coordinated, and had the earrings and hair all cute, aha, I had a kindred spirit there.

And we were off, we took 10-15 individuals at a time, and the students started fitting them with shoes.  We had a few other volunteers present as well, helping with crowd control and clean-up, but I must say the Maplewood kids had this in the BAG.  I watched the group of “sleepers” go to work serving, smiling, and running to and fro as they grabbed shoes for what we would call “the forgotten people” of Nashville.

I was blown away, humbled and filled with hope over the potential that these teenagers harnessed within themselves…and they HAVE NO IDEA.  One young lady in the group works nights to help provide for her family while maintaining straight-A’s.  Her enthusiasm and compassion was contagious among her peers.  She leads without even knowing it. 

One young man’s smile to the recipients of the shoes that day was a tangible gift to them.  His presence and sweet spirit just left us refreshed.

Four hours later, we were done and exhausted.  450 pairs of feet found some comfort and hopefully dignity in their spirit with their new pair of shoes.

 And then they became teenagers, and were hungry and exhausted and silly….

 

As we walked out to the car, I could see it on them, feel it through them, and hear it in their voice.  They served and they loved that morning, and believe me, I know, it gives you a “high”.  You cannot help but feel more whole after an experience like that.  I could see it all over them.  What this gives us is JOY, because we are here on this earth to connect with one another, serve each other and make sure we never walk alone in this world. 

So, Maplewood, thank you!!  You served well, with beautiful smiles, hands and spirits!!!!

*Thank you to the 450 men, women and children that allowed us to serve you that morning.  We love you.

*A special thank you to Erika Chambers, for volunteering her time and photographic skills.  All photos are courtesy of her!

Exclusive Outreach Prom-A-Thon

Last Sunday was the second year in a row that Soles4Souls has been involved in the Exclusive Outreach Prom-A-Thon here in Nashville.  This year, we donated beautiful special occasion shoes from Ellie Shoes and Jante’ Footwear, and prom dresses were provided to us from NewlyMaid and Unique Vintage.  Nearly 100 girls from several Metro Nashville schools, including Hunters Lane and Pearl Cohn High School, were among the recipients.  The girls were chosen by their guidance counselors, and are required to complete community service for the donation given to them after their prom.

One of the sweetest times of the day was watching the girls look in the mirror in their new dress and shoes.  One of the first girls kept peeking down at her new silver sandals, and saying over and over "I just love my shoes!”.

Their facial expressions would change as they viewed themselves in the mirror, and it was just fun to “ooh” and “aah” over them in their Cinderella gowns, and watch the smiles grow on their faces.  Another excited young girl kept giggling over and over while looking in the mirror in her new dress.

One young woman, a senior in high school, came up to me before she left and said “Thank you so much, I really appreciate everything you have done today for me”.  It was so genuine, and very touching.

Without this event and help from partners like Soles4Souls and Clothes4Souls, there really is no opportunity for these girls to have prom attire. 

These girls left with hope in their arms.  Hope in the form of silver and gold sparkly sandals, and frothy prom gowns with lots of tulle and beading.  I believe that our gift of Hope will transcend through the simple donation of a dress and a pair of shoes, and will become a defining moment for many of those young ladies in the years to come.

Grass..weeds, and the fence in between.

The grass is always greener on the other side, until you jump the fence and see the weeds up close"- Albert Grashuis                 

 

We always want what we don’t have.  We look at the lives of others and sigh and think, “if only…”

If only…I had their house

If only…I didn’t have to take care of a house

If only…I was married

If only…I was single

If only…I had their job

If only…I didn’t have to work

If only…

I have “if only” moments sometimes.  But this weekend, I had a little moment of clarity in this.  Instead of wishing for what I do not have, and looking at another’s situation, I stepped back for a second and realized that the grass under my feet is pretty green.  No, my life is NOT perfect…far from it.  There are also many things I still want to have, experience and achieve, but life is good.  I am blessed with many things.

Just like there are weeds under my feet, there will be weeds anywhere, in any environment. I also know that some of the “weeds” in the grass are beautiful flowers too.

Life is what we make it.  So the best thing we can do is find the joy that every day will bring us.

It is a choice to be thankful, and content with what we have, right where we are, in our little patch of grass…and it requires more courage than it does to be unhappy.

One pair of shoes + one little girl = one changed life

What a morning already…and its only 9:45 AM.

Even with the bad weather looming over Nashville (which I hope will clear up soon), I have received several emails that made my Friday morning a very Sunshine-y one.

I have to say first and foremost how valuable our Distribution Partners are to Soles4Souls.  As OUTREACH has grown in the last several years, it is amazing to see the relationships we have established with our partners grow as well.  I get emails frequently from our partners that are just checking in with us, or giving us a monthly report on shoe distributions.  Some of my favorite things lately have been the second and third requests we are getting from partners that signed up a year or two ago.  To me, that is an affirmation of our OUTREACH division, that these relationships are growing and producing continual outlets where our shoes and other items are being distributed.

 This morning, I received an email from one of our partners in Guatemala, and I wanted to share some of it with you:

“I wanted to follow up with you now that shoes have made their way to their final destination.  I am so happy to say that they made it to Guatemala a couple of weeks ago.  I made a trip last week and I spent a week there where I personally oversaw the distribution of the shoes.

The shoes are now on the precious feet of the entire school body at Escuela de IMA.

 

 I cannot begin to express "the difference" these shoes have already made.  I would venture to guess that none of these girls had ever worn a new pair of shoes (other than the shoes they are given with their school uniform).  The shrieks, the giggling, it was amazing to behold.  There was an even greater highlight.  One little girl, who had not come to school this year (the school year begins in January), had heard though the grapevine in the village that we had passed out new shoes to the students, and the next day, she came back to school.  A little girl decided to return to school based on her new shoes, given so graciously from your organization.  What this experience meant to me personally was profound."

I read stories all of the time, I see the photos we receive…and I know, I KNOW, we are changing the world “one pair at a time’, but to wrap my mind around this on a Friday morning.  One little girl came back to school…because of a pair of shoes. 

Keep giving.

Keep loving.

Keep. It. Up. 

Hibernating

I hate this time of year, stagnant, cold...bleh.  I don't like getting up to go work out because its way too cold, and my fondness for all things "FRIED" seems to increase also.  So, next year, I will devise a plan for this: TAN (the warmth helps me even though it is a detriment to my skin, JOIN a gym and take classes for 3 months to push me through and CONTINUE my fried chicken therapy ritual (hey, I can't let my Peeps at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack down).

Hibernating for animals gets them through until spring...they decrease their energy to a bare minimum in order to conserve energy during times of scarcity and stress.  Folks, I think I have been hibernating.

It sucks.  I like activity, flurries of busyness, action, action...I WANT ACTION. A-C-T (clap, clap, clap) I-O-N (I was a cheerleader).

But sometimes, you are just "give out" (to use my Southern vernacular), and after an unbelievably busy summer and fall, I was a little "give out", and I need to build back up my reserves so I have something to give.  And I am not fully "full" again...but I will get there.

I feel God most when I serve, and have "something" to do, according to my recent test I took from Monvee, for more info, check out http://monvee.com/.  I am like Abraham, which has its good, and its not-so-good.  Being still is tough for me, I want to please, to serve, because I am built that way.  But, my test said that I have to learn that God loves me not for what I "do" but for who I am, and who I belong to...

He loves when I am hibernating.  

He loves me when I sleep in and don't go running.  

He loves me when I eat fried chicken in my doughnut PJ's.

He loves me when I don't have anything profound to say, or write, or sing...or "do".

He still loves me, just as much, or even more so then.  Because in my moments of needing to rest and be still, it is Him, His love that I truly need to fill me and keep me warm, safe and full.

**One bright, unexpected spot to all of this hibernation...I have been writing with wonderful friends and working on another CD.  Something I truly never thought I would do...and it seems my heart has a lot to say.  The release date is uncertain, but it is coming along beautifully.  If you pray, pray for this...that God will provide all that I need to finish this, and use it as a tool to bring people joy and healing, and point them towards a place of wholeness.  And if you think good thoughts, the more good ones thought about this, the BETTER!

Here is a sneak peek at us in the studio (my air guitar player is the SHEEZY)

Love,

Tif

*PS. I am going back to bed....