Some days stretch into nights and and you really have to focus to find the good parts of a hard days night. I'm on auto focus right now as I review some special moments of my day. The end of the day had some episodes that could easily cast a pall on the whole day, Including smelling some real raunchy dope outside our gym. (No, I didn't inhale!)
My morning began with a haircut. It wasn't just any old haircut. It was my last haircut by the talented lady whose been making me look better for quite a few years. She's losing me as a customer to my fiance. I will not begin to talk about my fiance here because you would hear a never ending love story! Let me know if you are looking for a great lady to cut your hair. I left my last haircut with this nice lady and headed to court. Yep, it was trial day once again. I won't comment on the trial as the Judge will give his decision on the case next week. Trials are not fun and most of them appear to be contests devoid of compassion and truth. Even after people lay their hand on a Bible and swear to tell the truth, seldom does the truth seem to appear. The trial took the whole morning. I would much rather be mentoring in the Buffalo Schools than spending time in courtrooms but a mentor is involved in every aspect of a young person's life.
In the afternoon, I visited a Buffalo Councilman's office to pick up a check that would support our youth programs. That is great news. I also visited a friend in the Buffalo School Superintendent's Office. She is a great lady who helps children become believers in their own abilities. She raises those people around her to another level of belief in themselves. We had a short visit and hopefully we can plan more collaborations on behalf of school children in the near future. After a trip to Boy Scout Headquarters and a brief stop at my mechanics garage (let me know if you need a great mechanic!) It was time for the real fun to begin and I headed for the Youth Center.
The first few hours were uneventful. A couple of young ladies who are like daughters to me borrowed the YWAP Van. They were giving a bed to somebody who had never had one before. They were helping somebody and that's cool. I was sitting in the gym when a boy walked in and smiled as he said: "Jesus loves you and so do I." Soon it seemed like the sky started falling. A phone was stolen, a basketball became stuck in the ceiling (we only have one left,) food became a weapon and the smells of the neighborhood started to change. I walked over to the gym and I could smell the raunchiest dope that I ever smelled. The guys inside were playing ball and knew nothing about the smell outside. It could have been somebody just passing by who ducked into the parking lot to catch a quick buzz.
The worst event of the night was a physical altercation between a young guy and a couple of girls. Where I come from, A GUY NEVER HITS A GIRL! I watched a young guy pick up a metal chair and throw it at the young girl. Thank God the chair missed and bounced off the wall behind her. The wall will have to be repaired as the plaster was gouged. I called the Police. That event made for a pretty sour evening.
While waiting for the Police to arrive (they never did,) I chatted with an old friend outside the Youth Center. He just happened to walk by and I haven't seen him in years. I used to take him and his friends and cousins camping. We had some good times and some hard times. Some of his friends went down the wrong path. We both know some people who have been shot and killed. He said he is doing great in school and learning a trade. He said his family members are doing great. He said they found Jesus. That's is the bright spot of my night. He told me that in front of some other young guys who were suspended from school. One of our young guys was growing up and becoming a good role model for some other young guys. Jesus was involved.
Most of the young people who come through the programs at Youth With A Purpose are really good kids who are trying hard to be good in a hard world. It's the few, out of control and usually fatherless children who cause the majority of the trouble. We know that teaching the message of how God the Father loves us unconditionally enough to let His Son die for us is the only answer. It works and we will keep teaching.
Thanks for your time. Go do somethinfg nice for somebody.
Bob
My morning began with a haircut. It wasn't just any old haircut. It was my last haircut by the talented lady whose been making me look better for quite a few years. She's losing me as a customer to my fiance. I will not begin to talk about my fiance here because you would hear a never ending love story! Let me know if you are looking for a great lady to cut your hair. I left my last haircut with this nice lady and headed to court. Yep, it was trial day once again. I won't comment on the trial as the Judge will give his decision on the case next week. Trials are not fun and most of them appear to be contests devoid of compassion and truth. Even after people lay their hand on a Bible and swear to tell the truth, seldom does the truth seem to appear. The trial took the whole morning. I would much rather be mentoring in the Buffalo Schools than spending time in courtrooms but a mentor is involved in every aspect of a young person's life.
In the afternoon, I visited a Buffalo Councilman's office to pick up a check that would support our youth programs. That is great news. I also visited a friend in the Buffalo School Superintendent's Office. She is a great lady who helps children become believers in their own abilities. She raises those people around her to another level of belief in themselves. We had a short visit and hopefully we can plan more collaborations on behalf of school children in the near future. After a trip to Boy Scout Headquarters and a brief stop at my mechanics garage (let me know if you need a great mechanic!) It was time for the real fun to begin and I headed for the Youth Center.
The first few hours were uneventful. A couple of young ladies who are like daughters to me borrowed the YWAP Van. They were giving a bed to somebody who had never had one before. They were helping somebody and that's cool. I was sitting in the gym when a boy walked in and smiled as he said: "Jesus loves you and so do I." Soon it seemed like the sky started falling. A phone was stolen, a basketball became stuck in the ceiling (we only have one left,) food became a weapon and the smells of the neighborhood started to change. I walked over to the gym and I could smell the raunchiest dope that I ever smelled. The guys inside were playing ball and knew nothing about the smell outside. It could have been somebody just passing by who ducked into the parking lot to catch a quick buzz.
The worst event of the night was a physical altercation between a young guy and a couple of girls. Where I come from, A GUY NEVER HITS A GIRL! I watched a young guy pick up a metal chair and throw it at the young girl. Thank God the chair missed and bounced off the wall behind her. The wall will have to be repaired as the plaster was gouged. I called the Police. That event made for a pretty sour evening.
While waiting for the Police to arrive (they never did,) I chatted with an old friend outside the Youth Center. He just happened to walk by and I haven't seen him in years. I used to take him and his friends and cousins camping. We had some good times and some hard times. Some of his friends went down the wrong path. We both know some people who have been shot and killed. He said he is doing great in school and learning a trade. He said his family members are doing great. He said they found Jesus. That's is the bright spot of my night. He told me that in front of some other young guys who were suspended from school. One of our young guys was growing up and becoming a good role model for some other young guys. Jesus was involved.
Most of the young people who come through the programs at Youth With A Purpose are really good kids who are trying hard to be good in a hard world. It's the few, out of control and usually fatherless children who cause the majority of the trouble. We know that teaching the message of how God the Father loves us unconditionally enough to let His Son die for us is the only answer. It works and we will keep teaching.
Thanks for your time. Go do somethinfg nice for somebody.
Bob
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