Leon shaves the beard

For those of you who are interested in seeing what Leon went through when he shaved the beard, check out our newest YouTube video, and subscribe to our vlog for more video updates!!

A glorious homecoming!

The end has come! And we survived. No major scratches, no emotional scars, and hopefully no permanent psychological damage. Leon is home, and in one piece, and with a story or two to share. He has seen things out on the streets that he couldn't have anticipated, I saw some things on the home front that I never anticipated, and the experience we have had this past month was not what we expected it would be in the least. But that is another blog post for another time...

So backing up, Friday, November 30, the 30th day Leon has lived as a homeless man, I woke up a different person. We had completed the mission, and now it was time to go pick Leon up. Yes, since the second week, we have seen each other regularly and have been in more contact than we initially set out to, but at the end of the day,  he is still sleeping on the street or in a shelter or in a car if he's lucky. So yesterday, we packed up a picnic lunch and went to meet Leon at his new favorite spot, the deck park downtown (notice the wicked beard!!!)....

We ate lunch, played in the park for a little while, and then by 1:30pm, we were headed back to Southlake, where Leon's first order of business was showering! I would like to say that I let Leon sleep all day to catch up from a month of horrible sleep, but instead, our life went immediately back to its normal pace of errands, to-dos, and running a million miles a minute. Then Friday evening we had a welcome home party where our friends hung out, heard some stories and got a chance to see Leon and his famous beard! Here are some pictures from our welcome party...

We stayed out way too late for a man who had just come in from the streets, and on Sunday, Leon picked right back up where he left off at church, leading worship and getting back to his usual routine. He did shave the beard, and I got some awesome video footage of that, so I will post that video in the next coming days, for all you crazies who want to see it! :) But he really hasn't been able to catch up on sleep since he has been home, so our good friends have decided to use some of their hotel points for us to go downtown tonight to stay in a hotel, while they watch Micah overnight, which will give us some time to rest, go out together, and get ready for our early morning live interview on the Fox 4 morning show at 7:20am tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 12/4/12)! So tune in to hear a post-month interview, and look for more updates, stories from Leon as he continues to unpack his experience, and please subscribe to my blog to continue keeping up with us and hear what our journey looks like from here (once we figure that out!). And again, thank you so much for all the support and encouragement as we went through this experience. It was greatly needed, greatly felt, and we are eternally grateful for all of you! 

Homeless family in a car.

Throughout this whole homeless experience, for me, Sunday nights have really been the hardest nights of the week to be without Leon. Sundays have always been our hangout nights because we are finished with worship, and neither one of us work on Mondays. We would go out to dinner, to wine bars, go see movies, etc., all on Sundays because we knew we could sleep in the next morning. 

Well, this month, it has been a little challenging to get used to being home without Leon on Sundays. I have invited myself to some friends' houses, I have stayed in and hung out with the Thomsons, but even with all that activity, I still really miss Leon. 

So this Sunday after church, when a whole group of people were planning on going to Dallas to see Leon, I decided to pack some blankets, pillows, warm clothes, and load up Micah, and prepare to spend the night in the car with Leon, as a family. 

Now let me just preface this by saying that I am not a camper, an outdoorsy girl, or in any way shape or form someone who likes to "rough it".....in fact, it is safe to sayto say that I am probably the antithesis of all those things. I am a product of my father, who, when he heard Leon was going to be homeless for November, said, "If Leon is going homeless in November, then I will spend the night in a Super 8 for the whole month to show my support!" And a Super 8 to my dad, would be just like homelessness is to Leon! :) So knowing this fact, and being well-acquainted with my inner princess whom he has come to know and love, Leon was ecstatic when he heard that I was actually going to come down to Dallas to "be homeless" with him. I was a little unsure of the whole experience, but was doing this just to get to spend some time with my husband. Little did I know, I was going to get so much more out of the experience...

We, along with several of our friends, and some new friends we met, spent the afternoon at the deck park, where Leon frequently hangs out. Not only is it a phenomenal new park, but he says that when he is alone on the streets, it can get depressing, so being around families with kids, laughter and happiness, always helps lift his spirits. 

After everyone headed back home, instead of saying goodbye like we usually do, Micah and I hung out a little longer downtown with Leon. It was great to get to spend some one-on-one time in Leon's new "home," hear some of the stories he had to tell and see some of the places he frequents.

When we got tired, we all had a restroom break at a public restroom, found a parking spot to camp out for the night, and made our bed on pillows and blankets (lots of pillows and blankets...100% more in fact than what Leon has when he sleeps in a car......I wanted it to be a somewhat comfortable car bed, since I was in this to see my husband, not trying to learn anything from this experience!), and we went to sleep, together, as a family. 

I didn't really think much of the experience, aside from being proud of myself for not being overly high-maintenance in our overnight stint in the car (and for not having to use the restroom in the middle of the night!!). But that all changed when I awoke the next morning.

As I tossed and turned, starting at about 5am, my shoulder in pain, even from sleeping in the "comfy" car, I thought about all the families out there who really do have to live out of their cars. I even found out from Leon that his family (of 2 parents and 7 children) had to live out of their car for a time, and they didn't even have an SUV like we do!

And the thing that struck me about this whole experience is that these families live and walk among us, and we don't even realize it! It is one thing to be dirty, disheveled, and walk around with everyone who passes by knowing that you are homeless and need food, money, or quite honestly, alcohol. It is a completely different thing to be going to work, your kids going to school, trying to live, eat, shower, shave, and do laundry, just like everybody else, but having to go home to a parking spot each night. And the surprising thing is that the stereotypical, TV image of a homeless person that we have in our minds make up only 10% of all homeless people in America. The rest are hopping from house to house or shelter to shelter until they can get on their feet, or living out of their cars, just as Leon, Micah and I did for a night. Talk about eye-opening! 

Now, I got to go home right after that, take a shower, bathe Micah, do laundry, and have a meal after my one night of homelessness. But even as I type this, there are hundreds of families who live like that day in and day out, night after night, and they somehow have to make due with that reality, while trying to blend in as best they can with the rest of us. And as of Sunday night, I have a new respect for those individuals and families. And surprisingly, as I have learned from some of our friends who have shared their past stories of homelessness with us, many of us have been there for a time in our lives as well. 

So I set out to just get a little time with my husband, and I ended up with an eye-opening homeless experience of my own. Here is the only picture we have of our "car bed" with Micah getting cozy before we tucked ourselves in for the night.....

Stories from the streets: a sheep among wolves.

In Matthew 10:16, it says "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

That verse has taken on a more personal meaning as Leon goes out into the streets to better understand and better help people of all different backgrounds. As I mentioned in the last post, there are people who are trying to make an example out of Leon and to intimidate him so that they can bully their way through life. Leon, being true to himself, has learned that he doesn't have to bully and intimidate, but that he does have to be on his guard and not shy away from conflict, or else he will be overtaken. 

Leon is a very discerning man--meaning he can read people better than any person I have ever personally known. He reads energy, spirits, demeanor, language, and all sorts of characteristics that people exhibit in everyday life and conversation, and he is able to utilize that to help understand how to best relate to them and communicate with them. Chances are, if you come up to Leon with a motive or an agenda, he can sniff it out immediately, and act accordingly. This trait is very useful in everyday life, especially in ministry, but it is proving to be vital to life on the streets. 

It is a delicate balance that Leon is walking, and it literally is like being a sheep among wolves. Some of the people out here on the streets know who Leon is...the pastor from Southlake who is being homeless for November. Others only see him as another homeless man on the streets of Dallas. Leon has actually shared with some homeless people what he is doing, and why. And others, he maintains his 'homeless persona' and stays concealed as best he can. Who to tell and who to not tell, comes down to his own personal "read" on people...his shrewdness. 

The first week he was out here on the streets, he went to a very well-respected church in Dallas that actually busses homeless people to their services, gives them a shower, shave, new set of clothes, and a whole lot of love! An incredible church, and one I will write more about in a later post. The homeless gather at a downtown location and a bus picks them up, takes them to a special wing of the church, dedicated to their homeless ministry, where they will get to clean up, and have breakfast before going into the service. Now keep in mind, Leon has not told anyone his identity at this point, nor does he want to yet.  Individually, Leon can read people quite well, so he can determine whether they can handle the truth or not. But in large groups it is a pretty sure bet that at least one person will take issue with what he is doing for one reason or another. So therefore, in confined spaces such as a shelter, or bus-load of people, it is best for Leon to keep concealed who he is and what he is doing. 

He has also found that the non-addicts, and mentally-sound homeless (which unfortunately form the minority of all homeless on the streets) are able to hear and accept what he is doing with open hearts and accepting spirits. However, the addicts and the mentally-disabled people on the streets, otherwise known as the "chronic homeless," are not capable of understanding what is going on, and only see him as an impostor. In this one instance in the care of this incredible church, one such "chronic homeless" man spotted Leon immediately, and set out to expose him.

This man, saw Leon for the first time while the two of them were waiting to get showered and ready for church. He began speaking erratically, pacing feverishly back and forth, scratching and clawing at himself, and basically had the demeanor of a demonic spirit.  When he saw Leon, he immediately said, "I know who you are!" Leon looked at him and just looked away, trying not to engage him in conversation because he could see this would not go well. The man continued, and said to Leon, "I know who you are! You're a fake. You're a phony. You aren't real. You are an impostor." 

With it just being the two of them outside the room, Leon just said nothing, and walked inside to get ready for church, but a little freaked out at the thought that someone would say those words that mean-spiritedly, so he knew he needed to be careful. 

After showering and getting ready for service, everyone got back together in one room before heading to service. The man spotted Leon again, and started up his old pattern of behavior...scratching, pacing back and forth, and trying to speak. Leon knew this couldn't be good, when everyone is in one room, and this guy is going to try and expose him and make him out to look like a bad guy. 

Then, the man began to speak in a voice that everyone could hear. He pointed to Leon and said, "I know him....... He is a ffffff....ffffff....ffffaaaaa......" and he literally couldn't finish his sentence. He tried again, and the same thing happened, and again, until everyone who was paying attention to him just shrugged their shoulders and went on about their business. Leon, however, knew there was something else going on here.

In Mark chapter 1, there was an instance where Jesus was going into a new town, preaching and teaching. His time had not yet come to be killed and resurrected, and therefore, he just wanted to go in (as sheep among wolves), teach people a new way of living, and move on to the next town. All of a sudden, a man who was possessed by an evil spirit spotted Jesus and said, "I know who you are. You are the Holy one of God."

That verse immediately came into my mind when Leon told me this story, and interestingly enough, the man in Leon's story used the exact same wording that is written in this verse. There are always evil spirits out there, who, when confronted with love and goodness will look for ways to make a mockery out of that. And in this very simple, yet poignant story that Leon told, (along with a Bible verse given to me by a good friend), I am reminded that "The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still," (Exodus 14:14).

So Leon is out there on the streets, trying to stay anonymous, but revealing his identity to a select few who will accept it....must like Jesus did on the streets thousands of years ago. And the Lord is out there, fighting for him too, keeping him safe, just as He is doing for all of us, right now, today. And always. 

Stories from the streets: shelter defense

I thought I would make these next few blog posts about stories I have heard from Leon or others who heard them from Leon, just to give you a glimpse of what he is doing out there on the streets. This first one is a snapshot of life in a homeless shelter...

One of the most amazing things that Leon has found out while living on the streets is that it is very difficult to get things accomplished when you are working within the confines of shelter schedules. In order to secure a place to sleep for the night, you have to check in as early as 3:30 in the afternoon, and you are not allowed to leave until 5am the next morning, or else you lose your spot. I realized that this gets the homeless off the streets, so the city is happy, but if you are trying to get a job, or get a full days worth of work in, you are basically making a decision to sleep out on the streets, which, according to Leon, is worse than anything! 

So anyway, Leon checks into one particular shelter at 3:30pm and basically has to sit until 7pm when they have dinner, and then 10pm when it's lights out. BOR-RING. So he sits. And he remembers some advice a homeless man gave him on Day 1, that people will try to bully you to see if they smell fear, then intimidate the heck out of you, and therefore maintain their "status" on the streets. When you are at a shelter, any weapons are confiscated, and everyone should be unarmed, so dominance is given to the biggest and strongest, or biggest and strongest personality. 

Leon, as many of you may know, is not a shy person. He is not a wimp, and he is not someone that gets pushed around, but he is also a really nice guy. But on the streets, he cannot be a nice guy, because people out there will see it as weakness. So for his very survival, he must be a tough guy...not a guy looking for trouble,  but someone who keeps to himself, but will hold his own when he needs to. 

That is exactly what he had to do one day at a shelter. He had his signature white short-billed hat on, with his hoodie pulled up over it, and sat there, not talking to anyone, just keeping to himself. When it was dinner time, he went and got a plate and sat down at an empty table. Out of nowhere, a somewhat scrawny-ish man with a loud mouth comes up to Leon, and, in a voice that made sure everyone within a 10 foot radius could hear, said "You better move along, you're sitting in my seat."

A hush fills the dining hall. Leon, without adjusting his posture, head position, or hoodie, in a quiet voice says, "I didn't see a name on it, so why don't you just move along." 

Then the man, who is standing next to Leon who is sitting, pushes his chest into Leon's head, and starts making fists with his hands, and waving them as if he's gearing up for a fight. Everyone is watching at this point, and Leon calmly but forcefully, pushes the man backwards with one hand, turns his body, takes down his hoodie, and stands up very slowly, getting right in the man's face and whispers something that no one else in the room can hear, but it is enough to cause the loud-mouthed man to step back and take a breath, a little shocked. 

From the other side of the room, everyone hears someone else's voice yell, "Awww man! You just HAD to do that to the scariest mother_____ in here, didn't you?" And the silence is then broken and laughter breaks out at the loud-mouth's expense. The man then moves to a different spot without saying another word. And then the same man who just yelled from across the room, makes eye contact with Leon and says "We cool though, right?"

Leon smiles, and calmly says, "As long as you don't pull something stupid like this guy just did, we're cool." And he quietly goes back to eating, while simultaneously watching all the timid, or new guys immediately fill up Leon's table to sit with him so they won't be messed with. 

That's a funny story to illustrate just how Leon is having to adapt his personality and demeanor to survive out on the streets. He cannot be his smiley, outgoing self out there, because he does not want to draw attention to himself. But at the same time, he cannot shy away from confrontation because he will get eaten up by those who are surprisingly weaker and smaller than he is. They make empty threats to maintain status and gain dominance. But I assure you, Leon is not afraid to put his money where his mouth is, and if attacked, I have faith that he could defend himself quite well. 

So he has made a name for himself at the shelters. And as a result, the new guys want to be around him for protection, and the loud-mouths are now too scared to confront him. Once I heard that story, I knew that if anyone could safely survive something like this, it would be Leon. His life experience, personality, and calling has prepared him for such a time as this, and he will emerge victoriously...and no doubt with a story or two! 

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.

Focusing on the family.

It has been a while since my last post, mostly due to the fact that I have been focusing in on what is going on with our family, and trying to protect Micah's feelings and get a little more daddy time. Since last Tuesday, when we caved and went downtown to visit Leon, things have been completely different around here. Micah has gone back to his happy, fun-loving self, and I have been less of a drag to be around too. I think having Leon back on our radar, and being more involved in what he is doing on the streets has really changed our family dynamic for the better.

Since my last post, I sent Micah down to Dallas with Layne on Thursday morning, so he could spend the morning with his dad. Leon has also become a registered "Street Zine" vendor, with a badge number and everything, so he is able to sell Street Zines to make money (so if you are downtown, make sure you purchase one from someone...it's a great program for the homeless to make some money without panhandling!). So Leon and Micah spent the morning on Thursday selling Street Zines, walking the streets of downtown with Micah on Leon's shoulders, and then I met them later that afternoon at the new deck park downtown. Here is the scene I walked up to, when I found them that day (turn your volume down, there is some loud construction going on in the background)...

As you can imagine, it melted my heart, and I knew that Micah was the happiest child in the world, getting to skip preschool and spend the morning with his dad! We stayed at the awesome new park for a while, and let Micah play in the fountains...

And then we even walked over to the Fountain building to show Micah the fountains, which he, of course, loved! When Leon and I first met, we spent our first night together at the fountain building, where he played guitar for me and swept me off my feet. We spent the night talking forever, about life, our goals, our struggles, and that is where we fell in love...yes, the first night we hung out! So now we brought Micah back there, and even got a picture on the exact bench where we sat all night....

All in all, it was a great day. And since then, things have been much better, both for Leon and for us. Because I caved and went to see Leon, I got to participate in the coat and blanket drive that Taylor, a former youth student of Leon's organized. Here are some pictures from that amazing day, where we were able to give coats, hats, gloves, blankets, water and granola bars to many people without homes or winter-appropriate clothing....

And that brings us to today...a little more upbeat, a little more hopeful, and a little more thankful for what we have, and the fact that we have a wonderful family with so much love, and that even in the midst of Leon's mission, he isn't willing to sacrifice the well-being of our family to accomplish what he set out to do.

Yes, he is still committed to the 30 days, and thankfully, Micah and I get to be more of a part of it now.

I caved and had to find Leon!

Our first hug in 6 days, in Klyde Warren Park just a few hours ago when I found him tonight!

So I know one of the challenges of this 30 days of homelessness was for him not to see his family. Not really sure why we threw that one in there, but we did. I guess part of me didn’t want to get in the way of something he has wanted to do for years and years. So we decided that Leon and I would have no contact. We said a very tearful goodbye last Thursday, and went our separate ways. 

Now, only 6 days have gone by, and I cracked. I have had some good and some bad days, but I was having to adjust to living life without Leon. I am sleeping alone, waking up alone, going to work alone, parenting alone, eating meals alone, and doing everything that Leon and I normally did together, alone. It wasn’t fun. I had a hard first few days. And don’t get me wrong, I have tremendous support from family and friends who are keeping me occupied, and Mary, whom I see everyday...but I didn’t have my husband, and Micah didn’t have his daddy.

Micah has had some emotional outbursts lately, been very clingy to me, and has just not really been himself. I have been stressed, exhausted, emotional, and also not myself. And today, I just had to call Leon to talk to him (yes, he’s carrying an in case of emergency cell phone). I cratered. I explained everything that had been going on and how hard this was, and how I couldn’t do it anymore and that he should just come home. 

Now on an aside...I understand that 6 days is not very long, and in fact, many families have one parent or the other who travels a lot, or works a lot, and they are used to the separation. I just have to say that Leon and I are not used to that kind of separation. We are both very involved in all aspects of our family. I go to work with him and help him with all the church things he does, we both take Micah to school and pick him up, we hang out together after work....we are truly best friends and we do everything together. That is our reality, and that is what we are used to. And 6 days is the longest we have been apart since we got married. So it has been tough. 

When Leon heard how hysterical I was on the other line and how much this has really affected our family, he told me something that put everything into perspective.

He first of all assured me that his journey was not done. He was still pushing forward, and although  he had already learned a TON, he still had more to learn and accomplish. As for me, however, my journey of separation is over. He explained to me that because I was talking so unlike myself, and because I had been so upset that life had to go on without him here, I had visited the emotional state of that separation, and now it was time for it to end. He let me know that the only next step, once I got to this low emotional point, was to start adjusting to life without him, start surviving, and start becoming independent. And that was never the goal. 

I was never supposed to get used to life without Leon. I was never supposed to allow Micah to get used to life without his daddy, because that is not our reality. It was good to understand a little about the separation-factor, but that time is up. Now it is my time to not require Leon to give up on what he feels called to do so we can save our family, but now to be a part of it. Instead of trying to stay away because we set up some “rule” for ourselves in the beginning, I could now jump right in like everyone else is doing, and support him more directly. We make the rules anyway, so who was I trying to please? This is the love of my life I’m talking about...what criticism (that I’m sure I WILL get from some haters out there!) is worth staying away from the person I love the most in this world, just because we set up a challenge for ourselves at the beginning? That would be crazy.

So all that to say, after hearing that and gaining some perspective on the whole situation, I grabbed Micah as fast as I could, sped downtown in the middle of rush hour, grabbed some dinner, and Micah and I had a picnic in the park with Leon. It was incredible to see him, and sad to leave, but not as sad because I know I will see him more often now. And that gave me a ton of comfort today. 

Here are just a few pictures to share from our visit in the park tonight: 

Surviving day 1 and issuing a challenge to everyone...

Leon fell asleep reading outside a downtown building, because he had a very sleepless night.

It hasn’t been easy. Saying goodbye to Leon yesterday was excruciating, but going to bed alone was even more so. After a couple glasses of wine and a brownie (my ultimate comfort food and drink), I went to bed. I thought I would be up all night, but I think my two previous nights of sleeplessness set in, and I crashed and slept all night.

This morning, after speaking with Layne-our friend, and my only constant link to Leon-I learned that Leon didn’t have as much rest as I did last night. He didn’t know where to sleep, how safe the shelters are, and what his best course of action was, so he wandered the streets all night. He hung out at the fountain building, he walked the streets, he talked to a few people who were also out last night, and basically got no sleep.

Am I surprised? No. But I am hurting for him nonetheless. I knew this was going to be a difficult experience, but I had no idea just how hard it would be for me, watching my husband go through it!

It’s so cool that so many people are rallying to support Leon in his journey as a result of the FB group and some of the news stories. In fact, we didn’t even get to celebrate making it to 300 and 400 likes on Facebook because it has all been going by so quickly. But just like everything else out in public, there is always negativity and criticism. I have been consumed with some of the negative comments and issues that have been coming as a result of this journey being in the spotlight a little, and it has kept me from what I should be doing-focusing on my husband and praying for him. 

It’s amazing how easily we can be distracted from our current realities by negativity...and it becomes a consuming fog around us that keep us from being effective in our lives. The truth is, Leon is doing something incredible because he has a beautiful heart to understand people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. The other reality is that he is on the streets day and night, and I should be praying for him and focusing on my family and how we are functioning...instead, I’ve been focusing on all the wrong things, and it is making me ineffective in this journey that Leon has fought so hard for. 

With one small bible verse, posted by my cousin Logan today, I am comforted, and reminded of the heart of my husband yet again. In the book of James, chapter 2, James talks about our faith in God, and how our works (what we do) show that faith to the world. He says that faith apart from works means nothing, and then he says “I will show you my faith by what I do.” I, knowing Leon’s heart and caring for it deeply, know that this act of selflessness on the part of Leon, is doing exactly what James did hundreds of years ago, and before him, this is what Jesus did. He walked with people, chatted with them, and helped them see God just a little more clearly than they currently saw God, and created a movement of faith that still continues today. 

If Leon’s journey is inspiring people, then that’s great...but that is not his motive. He only wants to experience something as drastic as this so he can better understand and speak to people, and I think we can all learn a little bit from him...especially me! 

So...now to issue a challenge to all of us.....

Leon’s faith journey has inspired many people already, and it has only just begun! We have heard stories of people who’s children are inspired to collect coats for the homeless. We have heard from people who are giving up things for November in support and reminder of what Leon is doing. We have had people say that Leon’s journey has inspired them to help out at a homeless shelter in November, or give Thanksgiving meals to needy families, or donate money to a charity or individual. It has been amazing to see how Leon’s simple act of faith is inspiring others to do something in their own lives as well.

So this is my challenge to you....for the month of November, what can you do to be more generous and selfless to those around you? The sky is the limit, and any act of kindness that you do can make miracles happen! If you would like to accept the challenge, we want to hear from you! Post on our Facebook Page and tell us what your personal challenge will be, and let’s all encourage each other to live more generously this month and even longer. Can’t wait to hear your challenges, and I will try to come up with something of my own...you know, besides giving up my husband for the month! :)

It's official...he's on the streets.

Taking a moment, at Leon's farewell breakfast at Cafe Brazil, Deep Ellum.

As of 2:30pm today, Leon is officially released onto the streets of downtown Dallas. How do I feel, considering it’s now 7:21pm and dark? It’s hard to put a finger on how I feel, but I would have to say 20% numb, 5% excited to see how it goes, 75% freaking out!

This is the most complex set of emotions I have ever felt, and I’m not too sure how to deal with it. After a lunch with the Thomsons, Layne (who will be meeting with Leon every day and debriefing him, as well as tweeting his run-ins with Leon throughout this month....follow @CPALayne on Twitter), and Chris Hatchett, our good friend and fabulous photographer, we sent Leon out on his way into the streets of downtown. 

I, of course, cried...because it is not only scary for me to walk away from the love of my life on the streets of Dallas, but also because it brought me back to a time when we were dating, and lived far apart. He would come visit me in Dallas, but then head back to Lubbock for a couple weeks, and it seemed like death every time he left. That’s what it felt like today. But then, in the car on the way back home, I numbed out. 

It wasn’t until a few minutes ago that my numb stage wore off, and now it is just plain panic. I knew this was coming, but I thought he would have a plan that I could look over and approve before leaving me. But that was not the case. In pure Leon form, he went out there blind...no preparation, no supplies, and no plan. I, a, shall we say, Type A personality, am not ok with no plan. And therefore I find myself in my current state....freaking out (which in the time it has taken me to make brownies, pour more wine, clean the kitchen, put a 2 year old to bed, and continue with this blog, has moved up to more like 95% freaking out). 

My biggest fear is my husband’s safety and that he will be able to find a place to sleep tonight-and actually sleep tonight....so for those of you who pray, that’s what you need to pray for!

But as I type this, I am reminded of Jeremiah 29:11, which says “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” A very familiar verse to me, and maybe to many of you. But I needed to be reminded of that tonight. When I am freaking out because I do not have a plan, and I don’t know Leon’s plan, I have to remind myself that God has a plan. And that He will make a way out of the chaos of this situation that is better than any plan I could come up with, even on my best Type A planning days. 

But that’s not all...the scripture then goes on to say, “Then you will come to me and pray to me and I will listen to you.” So not only does God have a plan, but if I will just trust that plan, and keep moving forward in faith, I will be led to prayer, and God will listen. 

So whatever any of you might be going through tonight-and I know that everyone reading this is dealing with their own giants in their lives, just like I am-I hope that verse comforts you like it did me. It was just what I needed, right when I needed it, and my prayer is that everyone will be able to trust that whatever your faith or background, God knows the plans He has for you, and He will be faithful to listen when you call on him. 

Goodnight everybody...day 1 is over, and the countdown is on!

What does Southlake care about homelessness?

This morning's edition of the Southlake Times with Leon's article on the cover!

We have heard several times that Southlake doesn’t care about homelessness, and that the community of Southlake and the surrounding areas will not care about what Leon is doing in November. Well, to that, we have said “You obviously don’t know the community of Southlake,” and today proved that those people truly do not know Southlake whatsoever! 

A couple of cool things happened this week...one being yesterday, when someone from the Southlake Times got in touch with Leon, asking him a few questions about what he is doing in November. Then when we saw last night, that she had written an article about Leon and put it on the Southlake Times website. We thought to ourselves, “well, that’s cool...they wanted to write a little article about Leon...” Little did we know that we would wake up to see Leon’s face, along with the article on the front page of the Southlake Times this morning! It was all very shocking and overwhelming. I mean, I have never had an article written about me before, so I thought it was cool to see Leon in the paper today. And after that article came out, the story has hit all kinds of different avenues, such as Pegasus News, Yahoo Local, and more! You can even Google “Southlake man goes homeless” and see what all pops up!

The second cool thing is that we hit a milestone just a few hours ago when the Have You Seen Leon Facebook page hit over 200 likes! And the majority of the likes we got today, are from people I don’t even know. My thought is that maybe some people who saw the article are starting to find us online and on Facebook, and I have to think, yet again, that Southlake and the DFW communities really do care about what Leon is doing, and they want to support him. Which for me, means more than anyone can possibly imagine! 

So that brings us back to the beginning....what does Southlake care about homelessness? I think that Southlake is much more than a first-class school system, or a wealthy area, or a football team. I am suggesting that the community of Southlake actually does care about people other than themselves. And I am suggesting that Southlake WILL get behind what Leon is doing, support, encourage, and cheer him on in his endeavor. Southlake already is. And I am going to make it my mission to reach as many people as possible with this story because it is Leon’s heart that if people do hear what he is doing, that they will be inspired to do something selfless for the month of November while he is on the street.

Don’t get me wrong, Leon’s motivation for this 30 days is simply to learn about a different way of life. But I am making my new mission to rally the community of Southlake and other nearby communities behind Leon, and show the cynics that we really can follow Leon’s lead, and live more selflessly for this holiday season. So let’s all keep spreading the word, wear a tee shirt or wristband for the month of November, and do something that we wouldn’t normally do to live more generously in November. And share your stories on Facebook so we can all motivate each other to keep this movement going. 

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. 

How could he do this to his family?

As we are continuing our somewhat public journey through the preparation process of Leon’s homeless challenge, I am hearing a lot of the same question come up again and again from friends, family, and total strangers....”how could someone with a family do something like this?” 

Very valid question. It is one thing for a single guy with a heart to help people to go live on the dangerous streets of Dallas for a month...it is quite another for a responsible man, with a job, and a wife and son to do this. Crazy, right?

Well, yes, of course it is crazy! It is insane, dangerous, unpredictable, and unorthodox. And as the wife of a man who is doing this, I cannot get the craziness of the whole situation out of my head. Everyday I pray for my husband’s safety during the month of November. But more than that, I pray for his sanity, his beautiful heart to be protected, his morale to not be stifled, and his faith to be strengthened. I haven’t even scratched the surface of what this month will do to our family. How will I explain to Micah, our 2 year old son, that daddy still isn’t home? How will I get used to sleeping in our bed alone, every night? How will I get by without that last kiss and day debrief at the end of each day? 

These questions could plague me for my family, as I am sure they are plaguing many of you. And for that, I appreciate your concern, and would definitely welcome your prayers for us too during the month of November. However, as a wife, which I believe is my primary role in my family, how can I tell my husband not to do something he feels called to do, for fear that our family might suffer? The truth is, I have known that this month was coming for some time. Leon and I have known each other for almost 4 years now, and since the very beginning, this has been on Leon’s heart to do. It has been discussed, prayed about, shelved for a bit, revisited, and now the time has come, and we both feel it is right. 

One of Leon’s favorite stories, and more than that, a model that he lives his life by, is in the bible in Matthew 14, where there is a major storm around Jesus and his disciples while they are in a boat, and Jesus walks on water toward the disciples, telling them not to fear. He had one, particularly spirited disciple, Peter, who told Jesus that if that really was Jesus out there, to tell him to come out and walk on the water as well. Jesus promptly said “Come,” and Peter stepped out of the boat and actually started walking on the water toward Jesus. Now, there are a lot of different aspects of this story and there are a lot of different points that could be made, but to Leon, he looks at this story and sees a man who saw the Living God, and despite the scientific impossibility before him, stepped out of the boat. How many of us would have done that? Certainly not I. 

But Leon would. I am convinced that Leon would have been a Peter. He would have stepped out of the boat onto the rough, stormy water before him, and he would have walked toward his God. And today, facing this month of homelessness, I am convinced that that is what he is doing. And if I trust that Leon is hearing the voice of God, telling him to jump and do something crazy, and telling him that he will be taken care of, how can I not trust that God has a plan for Micah and me in the midst of it all? I, in the midst of plenty of negativity, will not be one of the voices telling him that he is dumb for stepping out of the boat. And I think we can all learn a little bit about childlike faith from someone willing to do something so drastic just to care for people unlike him. In the end, isn’t life always insane, dangerous, unpredictable and unorthodox?

The task at hand...approval.

Today is a very important day in the Have You Seen Leon preparatory process. Today is the day that the elders of our church meet to discuss the logistics of the whole process, and what it means for the church where Leon works. Who will take over Leon’s various hats that he wears at the church (I, Lauren, am the proposition to fill in for youth and worship for November)? Will he get paid, or will this be unpaid? Will he still have insurance during this time? All important logistical questions that must be answered before we embark on this journey. 

There is a lot that could happen, and a lot of decisions need to be made, but this is the meeting that tells all, and we will update as we have more information. And we would also like to take this time to thank everyone again for all their support, prayers, and encouragement....you are what gives us the fuel to keep moving forward. We are going to do our best to stay as transparent as possible so that you will all be updated on our lives as we journey through this scary and uncertain time. 

So much more than homelessness.

So a common question I am getting is “why is Leon really doing this?” Many people think it is just to raise awareness about homelessness in America, or just to try and understand what it is like to be homeless. While those are two very great things, Leon assures me that this homeless challenge is not simplified down to just that.

Leon has stated over and over again that this challenge to be homeless for 30 days during the month of November, is about so much more than homelessness. I struggle to grasp that as much as the rest of the world, but I think I am starting to see the true heart behind Leon’s call to be homeless. 

After hearing Leon’s heart repeatedly as he shares his vision with the various audiences he presents to, I am reminded that this challenge is more about meeting people where they are. Whether someone is homeless, facing a divorce, dealing with the death of a loved one, suffering from a life-threatening illness, moving across the country, feeling suicidal, or much more...anyone who is facing a seemingly-impossible journey, needs someone to tell them where hope comes from. Someone to help them see the light in the midst of total darkness. Someone who can tell them they aren’t alone. Someone to say “I’ve been in your shoes.”

That is what this challenge is about...not just ministering to the homeless, though that is very valuable. But it transcends far beyond that, and reflects deeply the heart of Leon. He strives to understand people, and this is only a means to understanding people on all different physical, emotional, and spiritual levels, and it only shows how he lives life. 

So instead of thinking of him as a homeless advocate, this is a challenge to think of Leon as just a person, who strives to understand you...yes, you...right where you are. And whatever you might be struggling with, chances are, Leon has been through something similar, and knows the feelings deep within that motivate you to be angry, hurt, frustrated, upset, or depressed...and knows how to find that small amount of hope within yourself to move forward, and to come out triumphantly.  

Start spreading the news.

Leon, on the phone...the best picture I could get of him to chronicle the beard!

Today, the news goes public about Leon’s homeless challenge for November, and it seems to be sinking in that this is actually happening! Leon is getting his ducks in a row, I am working on the publicity of this whole thing, because selfishly, I am just wanting some MAJOR prayers for this endeavor. I am reminded of all the dangers of the streets of Dallas....muggings, murders, drugs, random acts of violence against homeless people, extreme weather, starvation, etc.......and I get more and more freaked out by what we are heading into. 

Leon has moved into “beard growing mode” (pictured above) so that by November, he looks pretty raggedy and homeless. So in spite of the prickly kisses I get on occasion, things are progressing quite nicely.

We told the Circuit Youth, Leon’s youth group tonight and they are completely pumped about this venture. They are already posting on Facebook about Leon’s homeless adventure, and “liking” the Facebook page (facebook.com/haveyouseenleon), and are ready to wear a Have You Seen Leon shirt every day during the month of November, and wearing the wristbands that we have ordered for the entire 30 days. I guess that means I am going to have to wear a Leon shirt everyday and my wristband too....ok, challenge accepted! They especially liked the “Where’s Waldo” aspect of this, where they can follow Twitter sightings of Leon and go to the streets of downtown Dallas and look for him. Hopefully I have found more people to help me keep tabs on Leon in November. They are taking flyers to their schools, telling their friends to come to youth, and are even excited about the fact that I might be leading youth for a month just because they see the vision. I am so inspired tonight because of them! 

I know these aren’t children that we are dealing with, but sometimes when we tell adults about what is going on, they just remind us of all the negatives of this challenge. On the contrary, the Circuit Youth have reminded me of the beauty of true faith, the kind Jesus wants us all to have....

In Matthew, Jesus says “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 

And that is something that I constantly need to hear. This is something that is taking extreme faith, and now that it is going public, it is becoming all the more real. So to everyone out there, I encourage to live a life of true faith, and not over think everything. And to Circuit Youth, I thank you for reminding me of how God calls us to live....totally, completely, and unquestioningly in faith that He will do what He says He will do!