STREETZine
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
Offering financial opportunity to homeless and economically disadvantaged individuals. STREETZine is a program of The Stewpot and a member of International Network of Street Papers
Suggested donation to a vendor with a badge: $1.00 or more - La donación sugerida a un vendedor con insignia: $1.00 or more
Grateful for My Interpersonal Relationships By Wendy Rojo Growing up my grandmother would tell me the greatest gift in life was the people around us. The family that we are given, the friends we choose, and the partner we decide to embark on life with. These relationships are the most important aspect of my life. I am grateful for every interpersonal relationship I have because I learn from each of them. I am grateful for every interpersonal relationship I have because I learn from each of them. Relationships and human interaction are basic necessities of life. For example, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs ranks love and belongingness as third on the pyramid of needs. A person’s need for interpersonal relationships is a crucial part of our human needs. According to Healthline, without strong interpersonal relationships, a person can feel lonely and undervalued. In a time when digital communication and online interactions are encouraged, it can be difficult to maintain those interpersonal relationships. It was especially difficult to maintain these relationships during the pandemic when loneliness and isolation in the United States were already high prior to the pandemic. In fact, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently offered a warning about the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in the United States. Dr. Murthy reports that the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country existed way before the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased use of social platforms and the dependence we had on online interactions during the pandemic had a permanent impact on every aspect in our lives. BetterUp described six methods a person can use to build and maintain strong interpersonal
relationships: listen, express openness, communicate often, be respectful, offer empathy, and set boundaries. These methods can be used with primary and secondary interpersonal relationships. Healthline describes secondary interpersonal relationship as acquaintances, neighbors, or others you interact with regularly but may not have an emotional bond with. Regardless, if a relationship is a primary one or secondary one, the need to maintain those relationships is crucial for our self-preservation. Thankfully, creating strong interpersonal relationships does not have a timer or a deadline. We can constantly work on creating these positive-strong relationships Thankfully, creating strong interpersonal relationships does not have a timer or a deadline. We can constantly work on creating these positive-strong relationships.
A workshop that started with just a few writers has grown due to word-of-mouth. Everyone needs a space where they feel safe and welcome to share what is on their mind or share a funny story. One example is The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop, where writers get to be creative, but also grow their interpersonal relationships. The community that the workshop has built is amazing to see. A workshop that started with just a few writers has grown due to word-ofmouth. Everyone needs a space where they feel safe and welcome to share what is on their mind or share a funny story. I am grateful to be a part of a community that encourages creativity, kindness, and inclusiveness. Wendy Rojo is managing editor of STREETZine.
David Arnez expresses gratitude. Photo by Jesse Hornbuckle.
2
STREETZine
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
Pastor’s Letter: Goodness and Mercy
Stewpot.
Editor’s Note: Reverend Disasa delivered this sermon at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas on October 22, 2023. Have you ever been asked what your superpower would be if you had one?
STREETZine is a program of The
The STREETZine is a monthly newspaper published by The Stewpot, a ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. The Stewpot provides services and resources for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of being homeless. The organization also offers opportunities for a new life. As part of this ministry, the STREETZine seeks to raise awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. The monthly publication also offers financial opportunity for Stewpot clients who sell the paper to Dallas residents. Vendors are able to move towards economic self-sufficiency by using the money they receive from selling copies to purchase bus passes, food, and necessary living expenses. Clients also receive stipends for contributing articles to STREETZine. The content in STREETZine does not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of its publisher, editors, contributors, sponsors or advertisers. To learn more about this publication, contact Betty Heckman, Director of Enrichment, 1835 Young Street, Dallas, Texas 75201 or BettyH@thestewpot. org. To read more about STREETZine, a member of the International Network of Street Papers, go to www. thestewpot.org/streetzine.
STREETZine is published by The
Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church. Managing Editor: Wendy Rojo Editorial Advisory Board: The Rev. Amos Disasa Brenda Snitzer Suzanne Erickson Russell Coleman Poppy Sundeen Sarah Disasa William McKenzie Betty Heckman Photo Editor: Jesse Hornbuckle
By Amos Jerman Disasa
My people are not the most communicative bunch. When I told my mother that I tore a knee ligament playing racquetball and would have surgery followed by three months of physical therapy, she listened intently and responded, “That is bad.” My youngest brother Philipos was unaware that Sarah and I were dating when I told him we were getting married. When I said, “Philipos, guess what, I’m getting married,” he said, “To whom?” My second youngest brother Siega texted me recently to unilaterally announce that he and his girlfriend were coming to visit us. When I told Sarah, she said, “Wait, Siega has a girlfriend?” My next youngest brother Raaji also keeps his cards close to his vest. I once got a message from his roommate that he’d been admitted to the hospital. When I called to check on him, a female answered and said hello before identifying herself as Raaji’s girlfriend. To which I said, “Wait, Raaji has a girlfriend?” I could go on, but you get the point. The Disasa boys don’t put their business on the streets. I already told you about my mother’s admirable preference for saying just enough and not a word more. But my father is more to blame for the stunted development of our family’s interpersonal communication skills. Deciphering his responses to basic questions required a theological degree and familiarity with Ethiopian folktales. When we could tell that he was carrying an unspoken burden, we’d ask, “Ababa, what’s wrong?” The actual answer was I just spoke to our family back home, or I’m under pressure at work. But instead, he’d say, “I’m ok. Goodness and mercy will follow me.”
Concealing the fulness of God So far in the Exodus story we’ve witnessed the power of God from a distance. The fullness of God’s glory, though, remained slightly out of reach. A bush blazed on a high mountain calling to Moses to go to Egypt, but the fullness of God’s glory was concealed. An angry voice determined to punish the Israel camp for casting a gold calf spoke to Moses from a pillar of cloud, but the fullness of God’s glory was concealed. We heard God. We recognized the voice. We learned God’s name. We got acquainted with the fullness of God’s power to part water, split rocks, decontaminate rivers, and rain bread from heaven. We’ve seen what God does, but we haven’t yet seen who God is. That’s Moses’ request in verse 18: “Show me your glory, I pray.” He’s earned the right to ask. The two of them have been through a lot together. As the Israelites moved across the wilderness, Moses often steps away from dayto-day management of the camp to meet with God privately. Over time, their mutual trust would grow. Their relationship is defined by interdependence. But the golden calf situation has complicated the relationship. God is wavering on whether God will go with them any further. Moses passed every loyalty test God administered. Under extreme conditions, with no training, at the risk of his own life, Moses has remained faithful. And just in case God had any remaining questions about Moses’ allegiance, Moses acts as his own publicist for the first five verses of their conversation. Moses effectively says, “You got me into this and now you want to opt out!” Moses doesn’t skip a beat attempting to consolidate his win. Sensing an opportunity to catch God in a moment of divine exuberance, he asks for more. “Show me your glory, I pray.” Once again Moses changes God’s mind. In response to his impassioned argument, God confirms Moses’ set-apart status in verse 17 by saying to Moses, “You have
Continued on page 5
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
Executive Director’s Report: What Makes Me Grateful By Brenda Snitzer I am most grateful for knowing God since I was a young child. I went to a nursery school in a church and can remember going to chapel and learning about God. This is primarily where I learned about Jesus and God’s love for me. I have always felt God’s presence and after fifth grade while at summer camp, my counselor read to our cabin Hannah Hurnard’s “Hinds Feet on Hinds Places.” I truly heard God calling to me that week. I accepted Christ as my personal savior and gave my life to serving God. I’ve tried to do that ever since. I am grateful for having wonderful parents, two loving sisters, and an amazing extended family growing up. That gratitude continues to grow with my spouse, children, and now a grandchild. I remain thankful for my extended family, my church family, and my friends.
At The Stewpot, I feel most grateful to lead an incredible staff that serves so many people with compassion and respect. Whether it is our Children, Youth and Family program staff providing stellar opportunities for kids and families to rise out of poverty, our staff providing meals at The Bridge or distributing food at The Stewpot, our enrichment programs (art, music, writing, gardening) that give individuals the ability to find joy for living, or our Housing and Homeless Services team helping folks get back on their feet, I feel blessed to work with staff and volunteers who care so deeply for the folks we are privileged to walk alongside. Despite the fact we can only help a fraction of the folks living on the street, I am grateful that there are other people around the city and country that have heard God’s call to “feed the hungry, refresh the thirsty, visit those in prison or clothe and house God’s children” (Matthew 25: 34-40). It is only because of compassionate people, particularly people of God, that there are programs like The Stewpot. I am grateful for the saints that came before that have provided services and support for these programs. My attitude of gratefulness comes first
A View from Nature By Vicki Gies I’m thankful for my life at my age of 71. I’m most thankful to God for allowing me to live this long. I’m thankful for my family members. We had a wonderful time together, especially around the holidays of Christmas and Thanksgiving. My parents and I would go to Tupelo, Mississippi, to my mother’s family on Thanksgiving, and then we would go to Hayden, Alabama, to my father’s family on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for my education, even if I didn’t go to college. I’m thankful for my very first job. It was supposed to be a part-time job, but it turned into a fulltime career that lasted 25 years. I’m thankful for having a second career that lasted over 25 years. And after that, I’m thankful for currently having a parttime job as a STREETZine vendor, selling STREETZine papers, and for being one of several writers for the paper.
I’m thankful for being in mostly good health and thankful for my rehab in getting off drugs. I’m thankful to my sponsor for sticking with me! I’m thankful to my Aunt Polly for teaching me how to fish. We had several successful fishing days together. I’m thankful that we have a vehicle, even if it’s ugly, to live in for the time being. I’m thankful for my phone because that’s how I watch news, weather, TV shows, and movies. Today, I was most grateful to my church for giving us extra blankets and clothes. This story is dedicated to all the wonderful people, past and present, who have helped me. Without them, and especially God, I never would have made it to 71 years. Vicki Gies is a STREETZine vendor and frequent contributor.
STREETZine 3
from God, my parents, and the many writers of Christian books, particularly the Bible. Nancy Stout, who writes about “Enriching Your Life Through Gratitude,” shares that: “Living in gratitude does not mean you deny the sorrows and losses which come to every life. These need to be honored because pain and suffering are part of life. It is all about balance and remembering God’s promise to be with us ‘in all things.’ Gratitude transcends suffering; it transforms suffering. Living in gratitude and noticing all the good in life around us each and every day is actually an attitude toward life.” At The Stewpot I have seen so many with an attitude of gratitude despite their circumstances, whether they are housed or unhoused, living in poverty or not. All of us should emulate this and, as Nancy Stout says, “…accept that this is God’s desire and call for you. No matter what stage of living you are in as you read this, you have the rest of your life to live in gratitude.” Brenda Snitzer is executive director of The Stewpot.
DIAL 211
For help finding food or housing, child care, crisis counseling or substance abuse treatment. ANONYMOUS AVAILABLE 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR 2-1-1 Texas helps Texas citizens connect with state and local health and human services programs.
4
STREETZine
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
The Road Less Traveled: Craig Baker’s Pursuit of Poetry and Art By Poppy Sundeen Craig Baker looks out the window of The Stewpot art studio at a nearby American flag. If the flag is billowing, he’ll wait for a less windy time to go outside and spray his latest artwork with fixative. Because the medium is pastels, his piece must be sprayed to protect it from dust and smudges. Craig himself lacks such protection from the elements. He lives on the street. A conscious decision Homelessness came as no surprise to Craig when he left the workaday world. He knew that giving up a job would also mean giving up the roof over his head. “It’s the consequence of the choice I’ve made.” His decision was motivated by a need to spend more time working on his poetry. “I’d tell people I’m a poet,” he explains, “but I’d end up spending 12 hours working and eight sleeping, so I wasn’t really writing.” While he no longer has a job in the conventional sense, he does put in full days at The Stewpot art studio. His goal is to save enough money from selling his art to self-publish his poetry. So far, so good. “At every show, I’ve sold something, but it’s hard to make a living at it.” Discovering The Stewpot art program Craig didn’t think of himself as a visual artist until his May 2023 visit to The Stewpot. “I was there to get help with food stamps, saw information about the art program and decided I wanted to do that.” Program head Betty Heckman asked him to fill a sketchbook with samples of his work. “I came back and showed her. She gave me another, and when I came back again, she invited me to join.” In the six months since he joined the art program, Craig has blossomed as a visual
artist. His work currently fills one of the gallery walls adjacent to The Stewpot art studio, and Craig has come to consider visual art a close second to his first love: poetry. A self-taught poet Craig dropped out of college in his first year. “It felt kind of like high school, more of the same.” His knowledge of poetry came from extensive reading. He includes a number of 19th and 20th century writers in his list of favorites. He also takes inspiration from biblical writings, including the story of creation in the Book of Genesis. “I consider it poetry. I think the process of creation is one of the only things we have in common with God, and that’s something to be grateful for.” Losing himself in his work is part of the process. “A lot of time when I’m painting or writing, it doesn’t really feel like I’m doing it.” He follows his intuition and looks for inspiration in the work as it unfolds. “Sometimes you just see something in the artwork, just see the patterns in it.” Feeding the body as well as the soul Getting lost in the creative process doesn’t eliminate the need for food, clothing and human connection. Craig is grateful for the people who help him meet those needs. “People will feed you every day outside City Hall. Every Saturday the entire parking lot is full of people handing out food and clothes.” Craig also eats meals at The Stewpot when he’s working at the art studio.
Photo of Craig Baker. whose 1916 poem, “The Road Not Taken,” addresses the challenge of choosing between two paths, not knowing where either will lead. The narrator in the poem chooses the less traveled path. Will it prove to be a good decision? The same question can be asked about Craig’s decision. He admits to not knowing. “I’m not saying it was a good choice. I don’t know yet. Right now, I’m just in the process of trying to achieve the goals I’ve set out. I’m in gallery shows, thanks to Betty, and I’ve sold paintings thanks to her and to The Stewpot, so I’m moving in the right direction. I just don’t know how long it’s going to take.” Poppy Sundeen, a Dallas writer, is a member of The STREETZine editorial board.
“I’m grateful for the people around me — for Betty Heckman, for The Stewpot, for First Presbyterian — because those are the people who’ve helped during my time on the street.” He’s grateful to his fellow street people as well. While acknowledging that not everyone is well meaning, he’s encouraged by those who are. “There are good people on the street — people who still have a positive mindset, even though they don’t have anything but what they have on.” The journey ahead One of his favorite poets is Robert Frost,
Page from Craig Baker’s poetry journal.
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
Exodus 33:12–33 12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.” 17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
Continued from page 2 found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses doesn’t skip a beat attempting to consolidate his win. Sensing an opportunity to catch God in a moment of divine exuberance, he asks for more. “Show me your glory, I pray.” God just promised to be present for the rest of the journey, so Moses asks to see God’s glory, which is hard to define, but from the rest of the biblical witness we know it’s meaning is something like, God’s honor, or God’s divine presence, or God’s weightiness. Moses has witnessed God’s power, now he wants to see God’s glory, he wants to know exactly who is behind the blazing bushes, pillars of cloud, bread from heaven, ancient covenants, and promises to never leave. Instead, God offers to make all God’s goodness and mercy pass before him. Goodness, not glory God will cover Moses’ face when passing by in glory, but God’s goodness and mercy will be ever-present.
18 Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.”
God makes a sharp distinction between goodness and glory, which is instructive for us.
19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
I don’t know about you, I’m like Moses, more eager to call upon, pray for, and anticipate God’s glory than I am God’s goodness. I want to see God face to face, unveiled, resplendent, glowing, so I can determine for myself if the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is for real.
20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.”
If we could confirm God’s glory, God’s weightiness, God’s wisdom face to face, then we’d know that the stony road we trod would one day be repaired, and the heavy cross we carry would one day be lifted, and the mortal bodies we inhabit would one day be resurrected, and the unceasing violence we witness would one day end.
21 And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shallnot be seen.”
But God tells Moses today that instead of clamoring for a glimpse of my glory, notice my goodness and mercy. • Glory is heavenly. Goodness is earthly. • Glory is shrouded in mystery. Goodness
STREETZine
5
is obvious. • Glory is reserved for a few. Goodness is apparent to anyone looking. • Glory expects our purity. Goodness comes to our futility. • Glory passes by. Goodness puts down roots and stays awhile. • Glory comes in power. Goodness comes in mercy. I never asked my father why he walked through the world muttering “goodness and mercy will follow me.” But if I did, I think he would tell me about the goodness of his teachers that introduced him to the power of an education, and the goodness of the Presbyterian women’s group in Kansas that paid for his travel to the States for college, and the goodness of his older brother in Gidame that blessed his departure from our village, and the goodness of God that protected us when the Marxist government was hunting western-educated Ethiopians. We never saw God’s glory, but we clung to God’s goodness and mercy when the only protection the world offered was in the cleft of God’s rock. We never saw God’s glory, but we clung to God’s goodness and mercy when the only protection the world offered was in the cleft of God’s rock. My father didn’t say much about all that, but he did sing it. While he would wash dishes, or hang his laundry outside, or make us peanut butter and tuna fish sandwiches, he’d sing. One of his favorites was Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me. With his hands busy he’d sing “rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.” May it be so for us as well. Reverend Amos Jerman Disasa is senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.
6
STREETZine
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
Writers’ Workshop Essays Editor’s Note: Each Friday morning at 10 a.m., The Stewpot hosts a Writers’ Workshop. During the sessions, participants address selected topics through prose or poetry. In this edition of STREETZine, we feature the essays of writers that explore the topic of gratitude. The Greatest Gift: Sobriety By Mike McCall There are many things to be grateful for when I reflect on my life and what I have been through. I have overcome many obstacles and endured many losses. Life can be messy at times and when your vision is clouded by disappointments, it can be hard to see things in a positive light. These feelings are compounded when you add an addiction to the process. This is why at this point in my life, I’m the most grateful for my sobriety and how it has changed my world for the better. To help you understand why I’m so grateful to be sober, I would like to take you inside the life of an addict. Substance misuse creates a world that is dark and lonely. You may be the life of the party but most likely these are just superficial friendships lacking true connection. To help you understand why I’m so grateful to be sober, I would like to take you inside the life of an addict. Substance misuse creates a world that is dark and lonely. Many of the people I labeled as “friends” were just individuals who I could use with that didn’t judge me. So, in essence, I was surrounding myself with people who were suffering from the same issues I was while choosing to hide in the comfort of a bottle or a glass pipe. All this did was perpetuate the existence of the problem and nurture it to become a dominant force in my life.
for over half of my life and the damage it caused was almost fatal on numerous occasions. This is why my gratitude for sobriety is the strongest feeling I currently possess. Overcoming addictions’ gravity is no easy feat and unfortunately few find the strength and support it takes to break free. For most of us it involves letting go of everything and everyone we know. Think of the early settlers and how they had to leave everything behind to explore an unseen world. Making a move like this takes a great deal of strength and an overwhelming amount of faith in the rewards of the unknown.
Without these stable forces I doubt I would have made it very far before the gravity of addiction pulled me right back where it wanted me. My personal tour guides helped me see things for what they were, pointed out the dangers to avoid, and helped me feel like I wasn’t alone in this unfamiliar land. Following their lead and doing the work has brought me out of the darkness and into a life I didn’t know was possible. They helped me achieve the impossible and for the first time in many years I could understand what it was like to be happy.
This is why I’m so incredibly grateful to be sober. It has opened my life to joys I have never known, people I would have This journey is also filled with an uncomnever met, and a feeling of connection I fortable uncertainty that you will make it to the destination. For this reason, I would had only dreamed of. I fought to escape the gravity of addiction for 25 years and it not have made it if I tried to venture out brought me to the point of thinking there all on my own. was no other way. I had almost given up and accepted my fate. The power it takes to escape the gravity of addiction is usually found with the I’m one of the lucky ones you see, most help from others who have done it. don’t make it. So, I will never forget what it took to get here and what it is going to The power it takes to escape the gravity of addiction is usually found with the help take to stay. I value every day I get and from others who have done it. I found that pray that one day I can help others find their way. This is why I’m so thankful for after I let go of it all, it took the positive connections of others in recovery to truly my sobriety and all those that helped me find my freedom. They would be the ones escape addictions’ gravity. to help guide me through the beginning Mike McCall is a writer in The Stewpot’s of a new way to live. Writers’ Workshop
This is why addiction is so deadly. It has the gravity of a blackhole while masking itself as a helping hand. It loves to act like it is going to help you out while it’s true nature is to consume everything you have, including the light needed to find your way out of its grasp. It knows the secrets to help you chase pleasure and avoid pain, but its solution is only a temporary fix for more permanent problems. This is why addiction is so deadly. It has the gravity of a blackhole while masking itself as a helping hand. I played tug of war with this adversary
Hands offered in thanks. Photo by Jesse Hornbuckle.
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
7
My Gratitude for a Bed to Lie Down By A Woman from a Dallas Shelter I sat on my top bunk at my second homeless shelter and coughed from deep inside of my lungs. The hacking sound reached the far corners of the women’s dorm filled to capacity. I covered my mouth with a blanket to muffle the noise. A woman on her top bunk across the narrow isle turned up the volume of her music to drown out my cough and brandished a toy shovel to the tune of the music. Meanwhile, several women not far from me were rummaging through their belongings for a yellow dress. They pretended to fight for the only yellow dress they found. I had long been used to some women’s abrasive sense of humor. It wouldn’t have bothered me if I hadn’t been the butt of the joke. As I struggled for air, the commotion around me felt like an exquisite form of torment brought on by the unintentional disturbance I caused. Before I moved to a homeless shelter for the first time in June this year, I was secluded in an apartment with my roommate. Our isolated living situation protected us from viruses and bacteria which flourished in crowded places. The hole my roommate left in my heart was slowly repaired in the company of the homeless. When my roommate passed away, I was left with sadness and loneliness. Unable to pay for housing, I was compelled to move to a shelter. From looking at the four walls in the apartment to being constantly stimulated by conversations and arguments at the shelter, the process slowly cured the aching pain in my heart. The hole my roommate left in my heart was slowly repaired in the company of the homeless. Three months later, I found myself in the aforementioned second homeless shelter. It promised not only more human varieties but also more germ varieties. With the broke, the outlaws, the infirm, the aged and disabled came the angry outbursts, the vulgar confrontations, the filthy and the potentially dangerous while outside communities churned out volunteers from all walks of lives taking turns to serve us meals, play music and games with us, and educate us.
Thankful for love. Photo by Jesse Hornbuckle. There were social services installed in the shelter that helped those who could get back on their feet. Donations of clothes, beddings, hygiene items and food from organizations and individuals arrived daily at the shelter. I was motivated to do better. My cough subsided days later only to be replaced by a swollen and painful tonsil as my immune system played Russian roulette with a plethora of unfamiliar germs. I had all but settled in regardless. Days turned to weeks, I gradually found out that my rough peers who cussed and swore all had their kind side. I myself became less self-conscious. For the first time I could be myself without feeling conspicuous, judged, or criticized. I thought of the picture from Reader’s Digest of a glass window, opaque with condensation, looking out to a city skyline on a wintry evening. The blueish hue accentuated the cold and uncertain world outside the window in contrast to the warm and safe interior. At the time, I was 12 years old, just beginning to be exposed to media stereotypes. From the picture, I imagined the homeless tucked in obscure places, including the unthinkable shelters where they were despised and took it out on one another. From an early age, I was keenly
aware and interested in the subject of homelessness. Perhaps I felt like I was homeless although I lived at home with my family who treated one another like enemies. Life came full circle. I was fated to become homeless and to see with my own eyes what it meant to be homeless. I found that, similar to societies in general, most homeless people were harmless. They each had their unique gift and vulnerability. I had full intention to stay at this shelter although it depended on how well I could adjust to its ecosystem. Life came full circle. I was fated to become homeless and to see with my own eyes what it meant to be homeless. I found that, similar to societies in general, most homeless people were harmless. This Thanksgiving I’m grateful for my top bunk which I climb into and out of several times a day. I’m grateful for a society that cares for the homeless who need help and are receiving it. I don’t take anything for granted. My favorite prayer says, “although it’s given, it’s not guaranteed.” A Woman from a Dallas Shelter is a participant in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
8
STREETZine
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
Grateful for a Purpose in Life By Gershon Trunnell On September 23rd, 2022, I moved from my property in Dallas into a room in a housing unit on Live Oak Street. I was not really happy there my first month. I knew I was not going to stay there long and definitely was not staying a whole year. The neighbors had me feeling like I was in a mental hospital with no supervision. For example, there would be random people knocking and standing at my door that I had never met before. It made me feel unsafe and made me a prisoner in my own home. Yet, I am truly grateful for the gifts and talents God has given me. Throughout the years, I have been in positions of evolving lifestyles. I have had the experience to learn and teach what I have experienced in life. For example, my artwork has been displayed in the Dallas Museum of Art and the Dallas Public Library, where I have a gallery display on the fourth floor of Square One Gallery. I also teach art on the first floor of the Dallas Public Library during Fun Art Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. every Friday. I am extremely grateful that people like and respect my talents so much to ask for my presence and work. My poems and music got me first place in The Stewpot’s talent shows three years in a row. I also make jewelry that is displayed in a show during December and does well. I am truly grateful for the gift of art. It allows me to teach people art and ways to express themselves. Another gift I am grateful for is cutting hair and having the skill to be a master barber. Designing clothing is another talent that excels the limits. And I get to use my writing abilities in the Writers’ Workshop on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and in getting pieces published in the STREETZine. I also get to use my singing talents in the Dallas Street Choir. I am most grateful to God for providing for me and guiding me every step of the way. I give all thanks to God because if God didn’t give me what I have, I wouldn’t be in the position to show and share my blessings with others. I am extremely grateful that people like and respect my talents. I’m able to work doing the things I love and impact others who may be inspired to do the same or better. In conclusion, I can just say I’m grateful for life and having a purpose in living. Gershon Trunnell is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
Gratitude: Can It Not Be Known? By Aneshia Owens What greatness lies in a grateful heart? There is a grey area that comes from the blacks and whites, the ups and downs of life, where you must take action to unveil this greatness. In life’s downs, there is always a way up. You must open your heart to gratitude, for it is a virtue. If taken seriously, it will cause a healing in your soul. No situation or circumstance can withstand its effervescence, though it may seem like a hard task. Its path is not smooth but rewarding. Life comes with many challenges, detours and decisions. Most of it can make you bitter if you don’t make the adaptations to better yourself. Extracting goodness from the mishaps of life comes from hardships, and self-awareness is unveiled not through rose-colored glasses but through the lens of clarity. Knowing what strength lies within and how honest you can be with yourself sets the surety and perseverance required to see the greatest of outcomes. In the past, I have waved the white flag of skepticism with regard to life’s turmoil including immediate family strains, homelessness and interacting with others because of the intensity of feeling lonely, unsupported, and unappreciated. But through these difficulties, I am discovering my personal value and a sense of connection, learning that each day is a gift to treasure, a place to find beauty of mind, spirit, and body. Whether sunshine or rain (figuratively or literally), it is a necessity to engage with life in thankfulness. Hum a tune, sing a song, dance, and clap. Say aloud, “thank you.” Smell the flowers or the crisp air. Engage in joyful laughter. Each day, highlight your appreciation of whatever brings a smile or comfort to you. This constant interaction is causing me to develop a deep joy of life. We can find this truth shared by three very different sources. A Buddhist proverb states, “Gratitude turns whatever we have into enough.” Pope Francis is quoted as saying, “Joy springs from a grateful heart.” Theologian and philosopher Joshua Heschel states that it is gratefulness that makes the soul great. Gratitude will be known if you look for it. Aneshia Owens is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
Chronicle of a Thoughtful Soul By David Arnaz As I awaken in darkness, my body sweating and cold and visions of a life story being told and candles glistening, I thank my dad and mom for their time they spent raising me and teaching me. I thank The Bridge for the shelter out of the rain and the lessons of life I gained there, such as patience and cooperation. I received my apartment over two months ago and now have my own space. I am most thankful for that. My health is not the best, but I am grateful to be alive and well. I was hit by a car in 2008, placed in a wheelchair, and became homeless through putting my trust in people instead of God. Now, my trust and glory go to God, whom I thank for my life. This life struggle of mine has been very long and tiresome. I have done a lot. I have lost a lot. I have learned a lot. And I have gained a lot, although it’s not over with. But I thank God that a shiny day has come for me, and I can witness it firsthand. I am grateful just to be here and live and learn about life as I go through the loss of my son. He was shot and killed last year on September 25th. To keep moving forward in my life means so much to me, and I know that if my son was here with me, he would be so proud. The journey that I have chosen is not only for myself but for my son Manuel too. I want him to be proud of his dad because he is still my life. He is always in my heart. I want to say, “Son, Dad is in a much better mindset now that I somewhat have a grasp on life and I have my apartment and it feels good to get back to life and do for myself.” I give all thanks to The Stewpot because of their services, The Bridge, The Dallas Street Choir, God, my grandmother, and my dad. One thing I tell people is look around and you can see how homeless people are living around you. You see the ones on drugs, and you see how you were once versus how you are now. You see yourself in these people. That will always give you courage to keep striving. I was at The Bridge when it first opened in 2008, and the people that I met throughout that time provided the tools I need to become the person I am working to become. When life seems like it’s over, it is not. God is telling you something. God has sent numerous people my way. God has blocked off the wrong path. God has done so much to get my attention, but the last thing God has done is crippled me with a broken leg, so I could sit down and listen. And now that I am listening, I see myself climbing the rope, getting ready to run up the hill so I can walk up the steps to heaven, and there I will receive my wings, fly home, and to be with the Father. David Arnaz is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
Hallelujah. Photo by Jesse Hornbuckle.
9
10
STREETZine
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
Why I Am Grateful By Darin Thomas I am thankful for my health, strength and family. Waking up every morning makes my day. I developed diabetes in my 30s and started taking medication for it then. Diabetes made me dizzy and drowsy before I started taking medicine. I am fortunate to get my prescription filled through Parkland Hospital. Now, I feel steady and can go about my day without being drowsy. Physically, I exercise daily. I do a lot of walking. I walk about three blocks each way to get to and from where I catch a bus to work on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. I also walk around downtown through the week. As a teenager, I used to box regularly. That kept me in good shape. Staying in shape is still important to me as I am now in my early 50s. One way my family matters so much to me is that I live now with a cousin. She and I have been close since we were kids. She has helped me by letting me live with her and her husband in a three-bedroom house. I get to see my family more often living with them. Seeing my family and being able to get along with them means everything to me. I am thankful for my job because it provides income every two weeks. Loading and unloading trucks is part of my job, too, and that is a good workout for me. And I am glad for my writing class each week at The Stewpot. I love writing for the STREETZine, the Dallas Media Collaborative, and the International Network of Street Papers. They are a big part of my week. Darin Thomas is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
Thankful for My Country By James Varas I am grateful to be an American. I am first generation here in the United States, born in the city of San Antonio, Texas. My dad travels the world, and we are very loyal Americans. I am very protective of our people and country. I know that many people gave their lives so that I could live in the Land of the Free. With great freedom, however, comes great responsibility. The same is true with great power: You must do the right thing in God’s eyes. This is spoken through my heart, and I know that not everyone sees this the same way. As individuals, Jesus gives us the gift of freedom. He taught me how to see again, including how to love with no limits. Love life, love people, and even love the unlovable. Deep down inside, you can find the good in just about anything. God created it all. Sometimes we must search for why people behave in a wrong manner. You have to dig to the roots. People are raised differently, and many times traumatic experiences can change people. It is our job to love and to forgive everyone and anyone. Put them in God’s hands and move on. All things are possible through God and some people must learn for themselves. You can show someone the right path, but it is up to them to choose the correct path. Choice determines the rest of your afterlife. Forgiveness is free. We have to choose to receive it. In Jesus’ mighty name. James Varas is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
I Choose to be Grateful By Jason Turner I struggle in life with a frightful and annoying mental disorder called Psychosis One. Psychosis is when you have auditory and visual hallucinations that make it hard to decipher what is real and what isn’t. I’m 36 currently and I didn’t always hear voices. It happened a little over two years ago at the age of 33 and it took about six months for me to realize that the voices were not real and that no one else could hear them. I’m thankful that I never succeeded in suicide, that my family is very supportive, and that I found a great place like The Bridge in Dallas. The Bridge is a homeless shelter that caters to mental health and gave me several counselors and case workers to come up with treatment plans and aftercare. I was able to stay there for 13 months and achieve my permanent housing, which I cannot be more grateful for. Before that, I’d been off-and-on homeless for over ten years, living in bunkhouses, shelters, and underneath bridges. Growing up, I never received a correct diagnosis for my mental health because in-depth case evaluation just never happened. I am now also diagnosed with bipolar disorder, so I have extreme highs in personality where my behavior is superior, then huge downfalls in motivation and attitude. Misdiagnoses happened throughout my life until I was about 29 because I was always in an upward mood to be able to get to a doctor’s appointment. I’m happy to be able to express my experience and story now, even though the voices never quite fade away. I choose to be grateful because there are many out there who are overcome by my same circumstances. I’m glad for the God-given comfort I receive daily. For me, being grateful is a choice I make every second, especially when the voices say frustrating things, or I have trouble socially. Feeling tired and hopeless about getting a place I can keep is now a memory. Being on a special case load for mental health housing through City Square in Dallas has made that possible. Jason Turner is a writer in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop.
Grateful Hands. Photo by Jesse Hornbuckle.
11
NOVEMBER EDITION 2023
STREETZine
12
Street Newspapers - A Voice for the Homeless & Impoverished What is STREETZine? STREETZine is a nonprofit newspaper published by The Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church for the benefit of people living in poverty. It includes news, particularly about issues important to those experiencing homelessness. STREETZine creates direct economic opportunity. Vendors receive papers to be distributed for a one-dollar or more donation.
Distributing STREETZine is protected by the First Amendment. STREETZine vendors are self employed and set their own hours. They are required to wear a vendor badge at all times when distributing the paper. In order to distribute STREETZine, vendors agree to comply with Dallas City Ordinances. If at any time you feel a vendor is in violation of any Dallas City Ordinance please contact us immediately with the vendor name or number at streetzine@thestewpot.org
CHAPTER 31, SECTION 31-35 of the Dallas City Code PANHANDLING OFFENSES Solicitation by coercion; solicitation near designated locations and facilities; solicitation anywhere in the city after sunset and before sunrise any day of the week. Exception can be made on private property with advance written permission of the owner, manager, or other person in control of the property. A person commits an offense if he conducts a solicitation to any person placing or preparing to place money in a parking meter. The ordinance specifically applies to solicitations at anytime within 25 feet of: Automatic teller machines; Exterior public pay phones; Public transportation stops; Self service car washes; Self service gas pumps; An entrance or exit of a bank, credit union or similar financial institution; Outdoor dining areas of fixed food establishments.
Want to be a vendor?
Come visit us at The Stewpot! 1835 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201 Mondays at 1 PM or Friday mornings, or call 214-746-2785
Want to help?
Buy a paper from a vendor!
Advertise in
STREETZine
Support STREETZine and its vendors with your business or personal advertisements and announcements.
Email:
streetzine@thestewpot.org
Buying a paper is the best way to support STREETZine and our vendors.
Make a donation! thestewpot.org/streetzine
Write for us!
Contact us at streetzine@thestewpot.org
Any other ideas? Take our survey:
https://bit.ly/2WbMRsg
VENDOR #