Blessed beyond compare.

        A blessing, as defined by Dictionary.com, is a "special favor, mercy, or benefit". This entire experience over the course of the last five days has proved to be more of a blessing and a challenging growth opportunity for myself rather than a personal giving back testimonial. Time after time, one of my peers or a member of the community we were serving would strike me or speak into my life personally. Time after time, I was engaged, I was challenged, I was pushed, but even more so I was convicted and burdened for the condition at which our world so easily turns their heads in ignorance toward. 

           On the drive back to Lake Nona where I live yesterday, my thoughts kept crossing the occurrences and opportunities I have been given to make a difference in the life of someone less fortune than I. Every single day that I drive to Rollins, I pass at least four homeless individuals partaking in panhandling along side specifically the corner of Semoran and Aloma. There hasn't been a single time that I have chosen to look those individuals in the eye and pay them the humane respect that they are due. I have time and time again chosen to ignore their existence, pretending the problem or the individuals do not exist when they so evidently stare me boldly in the face. 

            I am ashamed of my behavior. I am ashamed at the fact that I have lost sight of the moral truth that all life is sacred and should be placed at a position of honor and respect. No life should be taken for granted or abuse in any way, shape, or form. When I boiled it down, I had been afraid of the poverty, of the issue I was seeing because of the false pretenses being stereotypically infused in my media driven diet. It would be my goal to remedy this fear and combat it with directly engaging the impact area by carrying "go packs" of necessities in my car and on my person at all times. I would use said packs to minister to the under served individuals  I would be interacting with and to provide them with the sensation that they are thought of, appreciated, and loved by someone out in the world. I would pray that this realization in my own life would stem to encourage and to challenge others to take a stand, be uncomfortable, and make the world a place we would be proud to call our home.