Where Is The Heart Of Our Society?

I've been doing some work on a project that takes me to different cities.  In these cities, I don't just travel the "ritzy" places, but I also travel into the areas that most have never seen or will ever see.  It isn't the places where tourists go or the places you take your family to a Sunday afternoon dinner.

These places are where you see the ladies of the night walking the street, and the people pushing their shopping carts loaded with their belongings.  These places are where you the depressed, sad, and lonely faces as you hear people talking to themselves as if they have an imaginary friend right beside them.  These places are where the buildings are boarded up with iron bars protecting them from those struggling to survive in this life.

Yet, at the same time, it is not uncommon to see the wealth of our society and even the not so wealthy drive past these areas, as if they are in a hurry.  It is not uncommon to see people so accustomed to these things around them, that I doubt most are aware it exists any longer.  Of course, you never see the local or national politicians come through these areas asking for votes.  You don't see the charity drives taking place here, nor do you see businessman recruiting these people for jobs.

True Christmas Humanity - Favorte Blog Post December 2012

  
Donald D'Haene On Huffington Post

Topic: 
During Christmas, I Think of My Once Homeless Brother

Date Posted:  12/24/12

I first met Donald D'Haene at the Oprah Male Survivor show back in 2010.   He is also the author the book, "Father's Touch" which details much of the struggles he went through as a kid.  Even though it was a challenging read, I found it to be rewarding in that I knew someone else truly understood the family issues I faced.

In this blog post, Donald opens up his soul about his family and his long lost brother that was homeless.  It is a touching story that draws you in as if you are almost there watching it take place.  Best of all - it is appropriate for this time of year especially when everywhere we look, there is discord, disrespect, fear and greed running rampant.  All too often people do things at Christmas that are very self centered, but in this case Donald shows through his own life, what it means to do something for someone that truly matters while not seeking any glory for himself.

I'll let you read the blog post he wrote so you get the full effect of what transpired.  You may want to get a Kleenex or two on hand as you read this, because for me - it touched me so deeply.


I really identify in my own life with his statement, "you laugh, you live, but it's always there".   This is more real then I could describe for experiences that I deal with in my own family.  So many people tell you that you have to replace your family and that you can choose your family now, but those words often fall to the ground without meaning because unless you've been through some of this, it is difficult to comprehend exactly what this means.

Thank you Donald for writing this and sharing yourself through your words!