The halfway point...and a message about our so-called "rules"

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of."

-2 Timothy 3:12-14 

Today marks 15 days since we left Leon on the streets of Dallas, and it also marks 15 more days to go! Wow! I can't believe the halfway mark is here, and I feel like the worst is behind us, and it will all be downhill from here. At least I hope!

As the midway marker of Leon's journey, I want to tell you a story. A story of a boy, who knew he was destined for something great. Not great in the way of fame or fortune, but a great calling was placed on his life. He knew that he loved God and wanted to serve God and help others to see just how amazing God is and how much He loves them. And he lived his life with the thought that if God was writing a modern-day Bible, and if he loved and served God and people above himself, then maybe there would be a story in that book about him.

Fasting forward a few years, this boy grows up, goes to Bible School, works in ministry for several years, helps teens in rough lifestyles, as well as college students, and even adults, come to know God for themselves, and he equips them to pray, read their Bible, get through challenging life situations, helps them find faith of their own, and share with others just how amazing God is. And though he grows tired from years of service in a church, where everything he does is under constant scrutiny and criticism, and in a community where his every action and motive gets questioned and attacked, he does not waiver from his original calling, which is to help others love God more, however God may lead him to do that.

This boy, growing tired, goes on a journey. A journey to find hope in the face of adversity. A journey to see what he can learn about another way of life, and a group of people whom few attempt to understand. So he sets out, amid the same adversity he has faced for some time, and he embarks on his mission. 

Along the way, as promised, God shows up. He opens this boy's mind and heart to a new way of thinking (which God has a track-record of doing). He brings understanding of all different people, mindsets, and backgrounds to this boy. He brings people along his path who have amazing stories to tell, and who touch this boy's life, even after one conversation. And as time goes on, God morphs the situation, stretches it, changes it, and broadens the horizons of what this boy thought he originally set out to do. The boy starts getting refreshed, renewed, and continues falling more in love with the God he knew from childhood. 

As you may have guessed, that boy is Leon, and that journey is homelessness.

Though we may never understand the depth of what God is doing in and through Leon right now, and though we could not fathom what God has in store for Leon after he completes it, we have been placed in his life, and heard about this story for a reason. The great news is, God gave this vision to him to accomplish, and not any of us, and I believe that everyone who hears his story is here for a purpose...there is something that God wants to teach us too. Maybe we need to learn how to be more generous with our lives. Maybe we need to take more time to better understand what those around us may be going through. Or be a better friend or spouse or parent. Or to ask God to help us through a challenging situation.

Is Leon's journey any less-legit because he now has a cell phone? 
Has he "cheated" because he broke his own rule and allowed his family to see him?
Is he not living up to a certain man-made standard because people are bringing him coffee or buying him meals (at the request of his wife)?

I would argue that no, his journey is not any less-legit than when it started. And I happen to know that even though the mission has changed and adapted over time, that Leon's heart and passion for understanding people unlike him is still the same. Leon knows what he is doing. He is not out to prove anything to anyone, he is there to learn. And this is how he is choosing to do it. Whether he uses the same method day after day after day on the streets, or whether he changes up his tactics and game plans all the time, this is his journey to accomplish something that he and God are doing together. 

So as we enter the last half of this journey, I would encourage anyone who has something negative to say, to just remember that Leon never claimed he could do "fake homelessness" better than anyone else. If you see something wrong with what he is doing, maybe take that opportunity to do it better than he did. Leon does not presume to think he can solve the world's homeless problem, nor does he try to. He is simply trying to gain understanding and insight into this way of life so he can better help people through it. If you disagree with what Leon is doing or how he is doing it, please, the take this as your chance to do better. Be the change you wish to see in the world. And if you are not willing to do that, believe me when I say, we don't have time for your negativity. The world has enough problems...let's not seek them out by targeting Leon in his journey, when you don't even know him or his heart. 

And now, more importantly, for the vast majority of you out there, who are not negative, and who do not have anything bad to say: thank you. Thank you to those I know and to those I don't know. Thank you for your prayers, your support, your encouragement, and your unrelenting positivity. Aside from God's role in this journey, it is you who have gotten me through these first 15 days, and I predict it will be you who will get me through these next 15. Knowing that we have support and prayers from so many, most of whom we do not know, means more than I can ever, ever express. So thank you for being the change. May God bless all of you exponentially more than you have blessed us.

Our "chosen" family.

We all have family. Some good, some bad, but most families are just plain complicated! Leon's family has been one of those complicated families. I have mentioned it before, but Leon has grown up with childhood abuse, been to foster care on more than one occasion growing up, living with parents who did not necessarily know how, or have the means to take care of a big family. He learned early on that his friends were the only things he had to keep him grounded, because his family was a very high-stress situation. And even with friends, he has had his fair share of heartache and betrayal.

But I think Leon and I can both agree that we are where we are today because of our "chosen" family...that is, those people whom we choose to be around and keep close to us, because they give us strength and help us become better versions of ourselves.

And today, I would like to pay special homage to one person in Leon's life who has been there through thick and thin...faithfully, unrelentingly, supporting Leon in his homeless endeavor, as well as all sorts of struggles, drama, and difficult situations before any of this even happened.....this blog post is for Layne!

Do you ever meet people in life who just seem so nice, that as you get to know them more, you find yourself wondering when their bad side will come out? Well, that's Layne....one of those salt-of-the-earth, would go above and beyond for anyone, genuine friend-kinda guys.

We met Layne about 2 years ago, and immediately hit it off. We found out right away that two of his favorite things are wine and deep conversations, so we knew that we were destined to be friends. Despite the fact that Layne is more than 20 years older than Leon, they have become the best of friends, as a result of late-night outings to Funky's, and evenings that ended at Layne's bachelor pad, drinking wine until 2 and 3am, just so we could finish a conversation.

Layne has shown so much compassion, love, and support for us ever since we first met him. He has stuck his neck out there on multiple occasions, has dealt with gossip, slander, and all kinds of issues (that we all know arise in church!) just to make it clear to everyone that he is in full support of Leon, his heart, and his mission. And now that Leon is out there on the streets of Dallas, Layne has proven himself faithful yet again. He is making himself available to Leon every morning and every evening, if he ever needs someone to talk to. He is faithfully praying for our whole family right now, he comes to check on Micah and me, and has become a rock for our family, and truly one of our very best friends in life.

I say all that, not to embarrass Layne (and I know this blog post will!), but I say all that to say this...we all need those people in our lives who offer us support and comfort and constant encouragement. One of the things that Leon has found from living on the streets is that you cannot create hope on your own. Whatever you are going through, you need someone supporting you and praying for you so you can get through it. You need people to keep you on track, keep you protected, and to have your back. We were not created to live life alone, and I think we can all agree, that friendships...not the shallow ones that don't mean anything, but the real, genuine, deep friendships are what get us through good times and trying times. So be cautious about who you surround yourselves with...are they people who uplift you, or people who bring you down?

So here are 2 mini-challenges for you for this month of thankfulness....1. For those of you who have a "Layne" in your life, tell them you love and appreciate them. Tell them today, and tell them often. We never know how much we will come to rely on those friends, until we go through challenging circumstances in our lives, and will really need their support. Why not let them know what they mean to us.... And, 2. BE a "Layne" to your friends. You never know how you may impact someone's life just by being a faithful, loyal, caring friend to them when they need it. Let's pray for each other, and truly help each other through hard times and good. That is what Jesus modeled for us in the Bible as well, and I can think of no greater example to live by than His.

"My command is this: love one another as I have loved you."
-John 15:12

Leon and Layne, playing poker, right before Leon left for the streets.

A lesson from church, of all places!

I think it all hit me today.

Yes, we have been preparing for November for a couple months now. And yes, I have been aware that Leon has wanted to do this for the past 4 years. And yes, we have been getting an outpouring of support from our friends, family, and even people we don’t know. But am I ready? Not so much!

In church this morning, I did my last worship set with Leon next to me. In the month of November, I go it alone. And though I have led worship for years, and am doing all songs I know like the back of my hand, I realized that not having him beside me is going to be one of the hardest things I will have to do while he’s gone. I realized that as I sang Revelation Song in front of our entire second service, and almost lost it. 

I did, somehow, maintain my composure during worship, but then our pastor started speaking about prayer. About the kind of prayer that really means something. And the kind of people who pray and it’s like they are actually speaking directly to God. He said that it can feel at times like some people have a “pipeline to God,” and they have God’s direct cell phone number, while some of us feel like we have to go through a phone tree and wait on hold for an eternity. As I listened to his message, I couldn’t help but think of my husband. He is one of those people who have a direct pipeline so-to-speak. He prays, and God truly speaks to him. 

I don’t know how he does it, and I don’t know how to get what he has (well, I guess praying more would be a start!). But to watch the true faith that Leon has, and the way he lives that faith out, is one of the most inspiring things I have ever encountered. God gives Leon premonitions. God helps Leon discern people’s character with a supernatural accuracy. God speaks, directs, changes decisions, and gives him an ability to see things clearly, where other people just see fog. And when Leon prays, things happen. When he speaks to God, clarity results, and lives are changed. 

So as I listened to the message, and I heard basically a profile of my husband’s faith, I lost it. I teared up and had to get a hold of myself, because the reality is, I don’t have that faith. I wish I did. I try to have faith. But I have no doubt that Leon hears from God. And on something like what he is about to do, I may not see it clearly, and I may not understand it, and I may never do something like this myself, but I know Leon hears the voice of God, and I know God will do something incredible. I am just going to have to trust. And pray. 

In the Bible, God tells Jacob to go back to his homeland and He will bless him. And then Jacob wrestles with God and God gives him a blessing. Leon has said that this homeless journey is just that for him. God has taken a child, who grew up in a chaotic and toxic household growing up, a household where there was no mention of God’s role in their lives, and gave this child an ability to pray. Real prayers. Prayers for his safety and survival. Prayers for his brothers and sister’s survival. Prayers for his mother’s safety. And God blessed that child years later with a family, a job, and a home in the comfortable suburbs. And now, that child is getting comfortable. Complacent. Ready to experience some true faith again. And that is exactly what Leon is doing. He is returning to his homeland. He is returning to the uncertainty that first brought him to God, and he is ready to see, yet again, what he’s made of. 

Do I think this is stupid? Absolutely! Do I fear for Leon’s safety? Most definitely! Do I trust God will do something incredible in Leon, and in me? Without question!

Stories of homelessness.

It really is amazing how God is working even now, before Leon leaves for the streets of Dallas. One of the most touching and unexpected things we have heard people say again and again when Leon shares his heart for why he wants to go homeless in November is, “you know, I was homeless once...”

Wow! 

It never ceases to floor us when we hear people we know tell us that at one point in their lives, they themselves were homeless. Their stories of struggle bring them (and us) to tears, and once again, we are reminded that this is not an issue that is far-removed from the safe, happy suburbia we currently find ourselves.

These people are just like us. They live in Southlake. They live in Keller. They live in Roanoke, or Trophy Club, and the surrounding areas, just like us. And yet, they have been through a life-shattering situation that left them on the streets with nowhere to go. And it changed them. 

It’s amazing how often we hear “What will Southlake and Keller care about a mission like Leon’s?” And not only do we think that is completely ridiculous on so many different levels, but now we see the extent of just how insane that generalization is. Because the truth is, even right among us, there are stories of great tragedy, struggle, extreme hopelessness, epic life battles, the triumph that comes in the end, and (arguably most importantly) the character that this situation of homelessness builds in each individual that must endure it. 

Our hope is that everyone who sees what Leon is doing, will find their inner strength to keep moving forward and never lose hope. Therefore, if you have a story of struggle (it can be about homelessness or something else), and if you are brave enough, feel free to post it to Facebook.com/haveyouseenleon. Together, we can encourage everyone with the stories of our struggle and how we overcame them.