Hello, Halo

I FOUND HOPE AND IT GIVES ME REST

I have something I want you to do for me. Imagine not having your iPod. It sucks, but you can do it. Ok, now your computer. Getting suckier as it goes. Now, imagine not having a TV, your car, a phone. Not having shampoo, body wash. Now, imagine having the most basic of posessions. Something we’ve all had since we were babies. Imagine not having shoes.

This past weekend I went to Minneapolis with a friend for a Hanson concert. I’ve seen them three times now, and haven’t been let down. The first time we went was in Chicago at the House of Blues. Admittedly, we didn’t know much about the tour itself, so when people were talking about a ‘Walk’ before the show, we didn’t really know what it meant. Being as we didn’t know, we stayed seated in line. The second time was in Madison, WI. We had done some research on Toms Shoes and the album began to make a little more sense. We took the walk before the show, and it was an experience unlike any other. Of course it was fun to walk and talk with the boys, to find out their thoughts on the project. But it was also so eyeopening to hear people so young get so excited for such a great cause. So many times my generation is so apathetic.

“This isn’t bullshit!”

On Friday, we took the walk again. This time, barefoot.

I got so riled up. It’s sometimes hard to imagine the chaos, sadness and lack of hope in the world. It makes you feel so small, so helpless, and so many times, we choose to look the other way. We decide that if we can’t see it, it doesn’t exist. But the fact is, it does exist, and no matter how small you may feel, you can make a difference. What I like so much about this project is the undeniable fact that you are, indeed, helping someone. Just one person. At first, it was hard for me to grasp this concept. “Ah, well, it’s just one person. One person on the other side of the world. One person who I will never meet. Just one person.”

Try putting a name with that person though. Try giving them a face. Suddenly it becomes real. Suddenly, what you’re doing is important. These shoes aren’t shipped out randomly to place where you’re never quite sure they’re needed. They are taken to these children in need. They are physically placed on their feet. That could be the pair of shoes that I bought. Maybe they aren’t, but who knows? Maybe they are.

I’ve been writing a speech about this organization for a class. I’ve done a some research that is a little more in depth, and I’ve had such a mix of emotions. At first, I was just so happy that it existed. Completely ecstatic. But then I found myself becoming angry. Angry that people are so apathetic about their fellow people. I couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t want to support this. I couldn’t understand how someone could just sit back and just sort of say “Yeah, well, what is one less person going to matter? If I don’t help, who is really going to miss out?” But what happens when everyone starts feeling this way? I then became incredibley sad. After doing some reading, I started thinking about some these children’s ages. My neices are 5 and 8. I started to think about it. What if it were them who had to live without shoes? What if we were all too poor to buy them? Wouldn’t I want someone to help them?

For a few brief moments, it was too much. I had to walk away from the computer, the speech, the pictures, the videos. I couldn’t handle it.

But then I went back. Ignoring it won’t make it go away.

I know that I have my limitations. I am a twenty-something college student. I don’t have a lot of money to give. But I do have time. I do have ways to get the word out. I have this blog, a myspace, facebook… networks for college kids. I have the ability to host a walk. I have the ability to tell everyone I know. Money isn’t everything.

I FOUND HOPE AND IT GIVES ME REST

BEHIND THE BLOG

QOTD

Blogroll