Thanksgiving, while having complicated culturally significant roots, has turned into a day of celebration for what we are thankful for. At it’s core, it’s a time to be around people you are thankful for, eat food you are blessed to have and to put stresses/worries on the back burner to just enjoy life at it’s present. This year, the Victory Scholars spent part of their day of thanks at The Welcome Organisation in Belfast. This organization aims to assist the homeless population with food, shelter, clothing and anything else they may need. The volunteer coordinator, an older gentleman named Sam (with a mustache reminiscent of his looney tunes namesake Yosemite Sam), explained the incredible full service resources they provide for those who have fallen on hard times in Belfast. He repeatedly thanked us for coming in to lend a hand and directed us to the storage room with the task of sorting through and organizing clothing donations so they can be processed and either put off to recycling or to those in need. After a bit of specific instruction we began sorting clothes, the room was vibrant as we shared stories and laughs while simultaneously sifting through second hand high heels and boots. While we were in this room, several of the Welcome Organisation’s “customers” would come back intermittently to peruse the available clothing. Most of them being male, middle-aged and looked the part of what a person would imagine a homeless person to look like. Except one. One man came in, he was about my age, bespectacled, with short dark hair and look of fading light within his eyes. As Sam led him around the room he repeated the statement “whatever you would be willing to give me” and often opted to take clothes of the incorrect size. After Sam and staff assisted him to a new, correct fitting, pair of trousers and a jacket he was on his way with a surplus of gratitude for the Welcome Organisation. As he left, I felt myself wanting to run after him to ask questions. How could he be homeless? What happened? Where did things go wrong? My inquisitive nature deriving from a state of empathy, seeing a person in a predicament I was blessed to avoid. I continued to ponder, this time more about myself and my life, I have been blessed to live a full life filled with opportunity and reward for hard work. However I believe, without the support system I had, including the game of basketball, I wouldn’t be far off from the man with the glasses that I had just met. That’s the strange complexity of life, it is not made up of months or years but rather moments, small excerpts of time that add up to determine the course of one’s life. For me, so far, I have been able to capitalize on those moments and direct my life to a positive direction. I am aware that only a few moments separate the man with the glasses and myself, so this thanksgiving I am thankful for the structure and support to be able to capitalize on my moments and I am proud to use my blessings to attempt to provide some support for others, so they can capitalize on their moments. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
