Singing for the Homeless

Seriously.  I love my job.  It reaches out to people in the community beyond the walls of the Boys & Girls Club.  I'm the director of the teen after-school program but often attend school events and community functions.  Most recently I have partnered with the Road Home overflow shelter to provide entertainment and music for the homeless residents there.  


I am close to one of my teens who used to live in the shelter, and we did a Christmas concert there together.  He is now in state custody awaiting a loving foster family in Midvale, and I am anxiously hoping they will find him someone soon.  In the mean time, I am his "mother", his "sister", his "mentor", his "counselor"... and of course I am his friend.


Tonight Heather and I had the opportunity to go to the shelter and participate in their Monday night activities. Other volunteers came to provide some fun things to do, and they saved the last 10 minutes of the evening for us so we could perform and sing with the guitar.  I saw some of my teens there at the shelter-- which is actually quite heart-breaking-- but you just roll with it, talk to them like you would anyone else, and keep a smile on your face.  I'm quick to joke around and make them feel comfortable and not embarrassed.


When it came time to sing, there were probably about 20 young people gathered around us, anxious to watch the guitar in action.  We sang "I Wanna Dance", which is one of my own, and then followed it with cheesy songs like "You Are My Sunshine" and "This Little Light of Mine."  They clapped and even swayed with their arms in the air-- super cute, by the way. :)  When it came time for Heather to show off her skills and sing "Amazing Grace", this little 5th grader (who had already proven to be the "cool kid" and probably a little show-off)... started singing along.  He came and stood right next to us and sang with Heather, even though he didn't really know all the words.  It was the cutest thing ever.  I wish we could have recorded that moment because I would watch it over and over again.  We sang it again and he was embarrassed and hid his face and wouldn't finish.  But after we sang a few more songs and ended with a fun peppy "Ingrid Michaelson" song... the cool kid asked if we could do "Amazing Grace" one more time.  And that was our closing song.


I love music.  I love how it softens hearts and breaks down walls... and no matter what your background, social status, reputation, or nationality is... music speaks the language of love.  My heart swelled with joy for having met that little boy.  He told me he was moving to Kansas tomorrow and suggested maybe we could be pen pals.  (If only I was allowed to do that!)  I told him to find me on the Boys & Girls Club website and he could send me an e-mail... and I highly doubt he ever will. :)  But I'm glad we crossed paths, if even for a short musical moment.  And I love that Heather was there with me-- bless her little heart.


Did I mention how much I love my job?  I love working with youth.  I love being an influence in their lives.  So many people have been that role in mine and I can only hope I'm changing lives, one day at a time.