Im not sure about other areas, but the homeless scene in DC is pretty huge.. if calling it a “scene” is even appropriate. Being well traveled in the area, you are absolutely bound to see at least 3 homeless people a day. Some begging for money, others wallowing in an abyss of hopelessness and empty presence. A few days ago I stopped at a bakery to catch up on some work  and grab a cupcake when I noticed a “homeless” man who had a bunch of technological gadgets such as cameras, calculators, remotes, opened with the wires etc. exposed.. He also had abt 3 carts. At first I honestly couldnt tell if he was homeless or not. I stared at him out the window trying to figure him out briefly (im not a creeper, I was just really curious 🙂 ) He appeared to be ‘working’ on this camera.. He had a short Frederick Douglas’ fro, was sitting on a chemistry book, and had a series of keys hanging from his pants (like a janitor.) He also wore a wool sweater and had to be about 90 degrees that day.. #eek

I watched as curious people walked by eyeing him, confused, curious, with wonder, and just that quick, they went on about their day. Who was this man I wondered? Was he a science teacher that fell down on his luck, engineer, future nobel prize winner living a dream deferred? Or was he just another man whose life didn’t go the way he’d plan..

Then it dawned on me.. What makes him different than me? I could be there.. and him looking at me. Life has a way of nudging you at those very moments when you need it. To me, You dont have to be physically homeless to be “homeless.”  You can be mentally homeless. Never reaching your true potential, caught in a tornado of stagnation, seemingly living a pathless, guide free life in some aspect. I can’t be that person.. I can’t be that person I stared at out that window. So many lessons came to me and I was very thankful. Although what he was doing seemed to be going nowhere, he was totally immersed, out of touch w/the world momentarily, driven by a childlike wonder and not giving a crap about onlookers and what they thought. Dont be so quick to judge others or their path. At the same time, focus inward, directing your energy towards guided endeavors. I had never seen that man before, and perhaps will never see him again but he was more than a homeless man. He was a reflection of God. i saw the God in him that day. a mirror. i saw the me in him & the aspects of him which I could use in myself. the total disregard for others. i saw a human being. Perhaps he was an angel?!!My angel.. If so.. to that angel I say Thank You.

The above picture is my green pepper plant and it really had me thinking about something i’ve been pondering over the last few months. What have I been pondering you ask? The idea outgrowing your environment, life, friends, old ways.. Anything. What does this mean? How does it manifest? Can you survive in an evironment you’ve outgrown? Who wins in the end? I have some answers that i’ve concluded for myself.

If you can see, the roots from my green pepper plant are all wrapped around loving and hugging up on each other & began to take the shape of the pot…some of the roots even began to grow out the bottom. However, From the top up w/no plant knowledge, everything seems to be fine. This is just like life, youve outgrown your environment, but to everyone else, things look fine. Well whats the problem? When you dont change environments, you begin to get smothered and die where you are. Your roots are growing and yearning to expand but they cant. With no where to go they wither away & kill the plant.. you. Not literally.. More of a metaphoric killing. you never reach your potential. see your greatness. spread your wings.

Ive noticed some “environments”, people, and experiences, food, ideas ive outgrown that ive been trying desperately to hold on to. im being watered, fed, growing, but my roots need new soil. Theres nothing wrong with the old soil, but ive outgrown the space so it requires more new than old. Have you ever felt like this? Or just stagnant? perhaps its because you too, need something new, fresh, more open.Yield to this feeling or you will be stuck forever. No one wants to die a painful metaphoric death. metaphoric daggers dont feel to good stabbed into a metaphoric heart *cues cyber music*

Change is scary but ultimately more beneficial. When plants are first transplanted from one environment to the next they sometimes go thru transplant shock. This means bc the environment is unfamiliar and sometimes different it may be hard for some plants to become acclimated right away. some even die *gasps*. only the strong survive. But guess what? In a new setting you can hold more, grow more, learn more, get fed more. More is required.

New environments may be a shock, not what you expect at first. but it always gets better. Ive finally let so many things go. Its honestly like a weight off my shoulders that I didnt know was there *spreads eagle wings*. im excited for this new journey. So to fellow humans.. if your roots are dying for new pots, fret not.. have faith and take that leap into newness. you wont regret it… well eventually at least. 🙂 Oh and Most importantly.. I dont take advice from people who’ve been in the same comfortable, complacent pot their whole life. theyve never utilized their faith. so if someone has discouraging words for you, IGNORE. they may not be ill intentioned but everyone isnt supposed to understand YOUR decisions. Your a baby eagle and their full grown chickens. they cant even tell you how to fully get off the ground…